Former Wheaton College wrestler Tom Jarman ('65), died Thursday, January 30. Jarman was Wheaton wrestling's first National Champion and the College's second individual National Champion in any sport.

As a sophomore in 1963, Jarman won the National Championship in the 157-pound weight class at the first NCAA College Division III Tournament, helping Wheaton to a sixth-place finish at the tournament. He followed up his National Championship season with a fourth-place finish at Nationals in 1964. He was inducted into the Wheaton College "Hall of Honor" in 1977, entering in the hall of fame's second induction class.

Wheaton head coach Jim Gruenwald says of Jarman, "As an athlete Tom was amazing, as a coach, he was even better, and as a friend and mentor he was priceless." Gruenwald continues, "Tom Jarman was instrumental in bringing me to Wheaton. But he didn't stop there, he coached me to be a better coach. Regular calls and encouragement helped me through the first few years of building the program, to choosing captains, and remaining calm through the difficult moments. He is loved and will be missed." 

Following his time on the mat at Wheaton, Jarman went into coaching. He served as the head wrestling coach at Taylor University from 1969-79 where he led the Trojans to a dual meet record of 119-21. His teams placed in the NAIA Top-10 for six-consecutive years from 1974-1979, and won two district titles, with six conference championships. During his tenure, thirteen Taylor wrestlers won All-American honors, five were national finalists, and one became a two-time National Champion. Jarman was recognized as "Coach of the Year" eight times and was inducted into the Taylor University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 1980 he began a 10-year run as head wrestling coach at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He guided the Wildcats to a 111-79 record in dual matches as the program earned seven All-American awards in his tenure. 

In 1989 he began an 18-year tenure as Director of Athletics and Head Wrestling Coach at Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Indiana. He was a central figure in the modern history of Manchester Athletics as he paved the way for Manchester's transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division III in the 1990's. He elevated the Manchester wrestling program to national prominence during his head coaching tenure, guiding the Spartans to 11 conference championships. He won seven conference coach of the year awards, and four NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Coach of the Year awards. During his time at Manchester he coached one NCAA Division III National Champion, 17 Division III All-Americans, and 17 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-Americans. Manchester compiled a a 179-48 dual record in his tenure.