Lewis Benitz has become a coaching legend during his 40 years as wrestling coach at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Not only is he the most successful wrestling coach in the state's history "from the standpoint of victories and state championships" he has been a positive mentor and role model to many high school athletes during his storied career.

This past season, Benitz won his fifth consecutive state wrestling championship, increasing his overall number to 17 state titles, which ties for 12th nationally. Through the 2006-07 season, his career record is 689-62-2 "an amazing 91 percent winning percentage". His 62 losses in 41 years is a mind-boggling 1½ losses per year for his career. Benitz ranks fifth nationally in coaching victories, according to the National High School Sports Record Book published by the NFHS. The past four state championships have come with his son, Scott, at his side as the co-coach.

Not surprisingly, considering his record, nine of Benitz's teams have posted undefeated seasons. In addition to the 17 state titles, his teams have finished second on six other occasions, and claimed 31 regional titles, 29 sectional championships and 31 Wisconsin Valley Conference titles.

Benitz's Lincoln High wrestling teams were ranked among the top 25 prep teams in the nation seven consecutive years, and his teams have posted more than 150 team tournament championships.

Among his many honors, Benitz has been named coach of the year at the conference, district, state, region and national levels. He has been inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Stout Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and he received the Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Perhaps as significant to Benitz as his teams' state titles has been the manner in which they have become champions. On two occasions, most recently in 2006, Lincoln High has won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Sportsmanship Award at the state tournament, and Benitz's teams have received honorable mention in other years. This award is given for positive sportsmanlike behavior on the part of the team, school and community.

A four-year wrestler himself at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Benitz has hosted the Wisconsin USA State Freestyle Tournament for more than 25 years.