Scott Laird Bliss

Scott Laird Bliss passed away on December 12, 2013 in Othello, WA. Scott was well known as one of the great wrestlers produced by the state of Washington: national high school champion (1975), 2nd in the 1980 NCAA tournament, and a member of the 1983 USA World Team. Scott later had a distinguished coaching career at both the collegiate and high school levels.

Born to Fred and Nancy Bliss in Moses Lake, Washington on July 26, 1957, Scott is survived by his beloved sons, Jacob Bliss and Nolan Bliss, and his former wife Cindy Richman, all living in Spokane. The greatest highlight of Scott’s life was being a father. He enjoyed supporting his sons in basketball, wrestling, and cross country at Mead High School. Scott’s favorite times were ski outings at the family cabin at Anthony Lakes, Oregon; large family reunions in Manzanita on the Oregon coast; and, backpacking trips with friends in Montana.

Scott was part of a close family of siblings, in-laws, and nephews and nieces who loved him dearly: Kathryn Bliss (Joel, daughter Emily), Sandy, OR; David Bliss (Debbie, sons Richard and Matthew), Everett, WA; John Bliss (Maria, daughter Hannah, sons Sam and Andy), Mercer Island, WA.

Scott grew up in Othello and attended the University of Oregon, where he was a highly accomplished athlete and developed a life long passion for the Ducks. He met Cindy Wheeler while in college and they married in 1980. Upon graduating from Oregon in 1980, he became the youngest collegiate head wrestling coach in the country, at the University of Montana. While at Montana, Scott coached and continued to pursue his own wrestling career, with his eyes on the 1984 Olympic team. Scott made the 1983 USA World team and competed in the World Championships in Oslo, Norway. By 1984, the demands of coaching led Scott to retire from his own career and focus on developing the talents of those he coached.

Scott’s collegiate coaching career spanned over ten years at the University of Montana, University of Wyoming and Oregon State University. He led his teams to numerous conference championships, and was named conference coach of the year in the Western Athletic Conference and Big Sky Conference. In the early 1990’s, Scott turned his attention to teaching and coaching at the high school level, where he lead Auburn High School to two state championships. Scott concluded his teaching and coaching career at Mead High School in Spokane.

His list of accomplishments were many: national high school champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling; two-time All-American at University of Oregon; 1980 Pac- 10 Medal winner at the University of Oregon (awarded to the athlete at each conference university exhibiting the best combination of scholarship, athletics, and leadership); 4th place in the 1981 World University Games in Romania; 1981 USA World Wrestling team (Oslo, Norway); Big Sky Conference and Western Athletic Conference coach of the year; and, two state high school championships while coaching Auburn High School.

More than anything he accomplished personally, Scott was proud of the athletes and teams he helped lead to unexpected wins, conference championships, berths in the NCAA championship tournament, and later high school state championships.

Scott was a leader and innovator when it came to increasing popularity and participation in the sport of amateur wrestling. He founded what is known as the 'Dream Duals', which has become a cherished institution in Washington high school wrestling, pitting the top teams from across the state of Washington in a state championship dual meet format. Scott was also a leader in introducing women to the sport of wrestling, welcoming girls to his Auburn High School team. Today, there is a separate state championship for girls, the founding of which can be traced back to Scott and Auburn.