Dr. Mike Rybak left St. Cloud State University after excelling both in athletics and academics. A phenomenal student athlete and scholar, Rybak lettered four times in wrestling and three times in football at SCSU. He won four Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) wrestling titles from 1965 to 1968 at 191 pounds, and is the only Husky to win four conference wrestling titles. He was an NAIA National Champion and All-American in 1967 and earned All-American honors in 1968 with his national runner-up finish. He was also the 1968 Dean Weisman SCSU Wrestler of the Year Award winner. From 1965 to 1967 the Huskies placed third in the team standings at the NAIA Championships and fifth in both 1966 and 1967. An offensive center in football, Rybak was a 1967 All-NIC team member as the Huskies went 8-1 that season.
After his accomplished athletic career, Rybak began his impressive coaching career. At Foley High School his wrestling teams won ten conference titles, seven district titles and two region titles. From there he moved to Itasca Community College where he coached five teams to top five finishes at the NJCAA Nationals, with his 1995 team winning the DIII National Championship. He coaches 36 All-Americans and was named NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year five time. In 1992 he was named the NJCAA Wrestling Man of the Year. Coach Rybak continues to coach track at Greenway/Nashwauk/Keewatin High School where recently finished his 47th year of coaching.
Rybak received his B.S. and M.S. degree at SCSU and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1994. All his degrees earned were with Highest Honors. Rybak has been honored for his athletic efforts with inductions to Anoka High School, St. Cloud State, NAIA, NJCAA, the Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Mike has been married for 49 years to his wife, Chris, and is very proud of his two children, Mike and Mary Jo. Mike and Chris also have 3 grandchildren, Joey and Beatrice Rybak and Kyle Yumul.