Wilfred E.Caan
Bill Caan came to America from England in 1887. He broke into wrestling at county fairs and then spent time touring with circus outfits. A graduate of Springfield College,Caan accepted a position of physical Education director at the Elizabeth YMCA. Establishing the wrestling program there in 1907 Caan Caan developed some of the best grapplers in the USA until 1924. In 1924 he was selected to coach the Olympic Team which would compete in France. He repeated this honor in Amsterdam in 1928. While at the Elizabeth YMCA he would develop the Rutgers University Wrestling team which he coached until 1944 when it was suspended for the war effort. Wilfred Caan is credited with starting wrestling in New Jersey while at the YMCA and was the official at the first State Tournament for Harry E.Lake. Considered The Father of NJ Wrestling the NJWCA has named the State Coach of the Year Award in his memory.
Sam MIlls- Long Branch, Montclair State & NFL
Sam Mills wrestled and played football on an All-State level at Long Branch HS placing second as a senior in the State Tournament at 188lbs while posting a 31-2 record. Because of his small size,only 5'9" tall,Sam was ignored by the Division one schools and chose Montclair State College to continue his athletic career. At Montclair State Sam excelled on the gridiron like no other football player before or after him. In the words of his coach Fred Hill Sam Mills is a human highlight film,in a game won 7-6 Sam made 22 tackles,blocked a kick,intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. After Montclair he was again ignored by the NFL so signed as a free agent with the USFL where he became a major force for that league. When the USFL folded Sam moved right in with the New Orleans Saints where he had an All-Pro Career and the same with the Carolina Panthers where he would later coach. In 2003 Sam Mills was diagnosed with cancer and told he had only months to live,those doctors had no idea of the size of Sam's will and heart. Sam fought the battle against this disease as he fought every battle in his life proving the doctors wrong as he underwent chemotherapy and continued to coach and serve as the inspirational leader for Carolina's march to the Super Bowl. Sam Mills passed away on April 18th 2005,he was 45 years old and an inspiration for every person who had the pleasure to have been touched by him in life.
