Ohio HS Wrestling: Mick Burnett’s swift rise to Elyria Catholic head coach
NOTE: This story was edited by Brandon Lewis
For those who follow Ohio high school wrestling, the Burnett family name is synonymous with the sport.
From Erik Burnett’s long legacy (including multiple Hall of Fame inductions since 2022), which includes coaching his two sons at Elyria, to his younger brother Scottie Burnett and Scottie’s son — Perrysburg sophomore Grey Burnett — you know exactly what you’re getting out of a Burnett.
Erik won four state titles at Oberlin, Scottie won three at Elyria Catholic — and just coached Grey to his first in 2024 as a freshman.
The eldest of Erik’s two boys — Mick Burnett — earned a hard-fought state title in 2019. In the years since, Mick started continuing the Burnett family coaching legacy that goes back to his grandfather’s days.
Only a year after landing his first official assistant coaching gig with the Elyria Catholic Panthers, Mick was promoted to head coach for the Panthers program ahead of the 2024–25 wrestling campaign.
It was a quick move up the ladder for Mick, as he sat in the coach’s corner at Columbia’s Wasko Memorial Tournament Jan. 4, with three wrestlers reaching the podium. It’s been roughly a month since OHSAA competition started and so much has happened in that span of time.
Among the attributes Mick believes has helped him stay steady and find some early success is “being consistent and communicating with everyone in the program.”
“From Athletic Director (Jim Piazza), to the administration, to the parents, it takes a village to make this thing run,” Mick explained as the final rounds of the Jan. 4 tournament were wrapping up.
“I think using that and with the support group we have from our coaching staff, I think that’s been the biggest thing. It’s having everyone come together as one and it’s starting to happen, but we’re getting there.”
There are differences between being the assistant to a program and running a program, going from ‘Assistant Coach Mick’ to ‘Coach Burnett’. So, what’s changed in how the one-time Elyria champ handles the kids now compared to a year ago in the Panthers wrestling room?
“It’s more of a responsibility,” Mick explained while cupping his chin for a moment, also noting he’s had to learn to not overthink things too much.
“It’s being responsible for getting kids to the tournament, making sure the buses are on time. We’re making sure we have food and water for them at the tournament. As far as coaching them up, nothing’s really changed. I’m still Coach Mick. I’m still running the practices. There’s just a little more responsibility on my end.”
Now coaching at his uncle Scottie’s alma mater, Mick Burnett has a chance to produce Elyria Catholic’s first state champion since — Ironically enough — Scottie’s three state titles back in the latter’s high school days during the 1990s.
“We’re trying to change that now,” Mick smiled with a slight nod of his head.
Beyond having been coached by his dad — who had a 25-year run that elevated the Elyria Pioneers program to national recognition — to his uncle’s connections and advice, the first-year head coach has gotten plenty of advice from his uncle this season.
“Elyria Catholic is a really connected place,” Mick said. “There’s a lot of alumni that are big wrestling people. I think helping with that and helping us do the things we see us doing in the future, it takes a village to do that as well and build a successful program that can win at a high level.
“In the next few years, I think we can get to that point.”
Sean Fitzgerald is an award-winning journalist, writer, sports reporter, voiceover talent and podcaster. Tune in to the ‘Fitz On Sports Podcast’ on Voltage Live each Friday and follow him on Twitter/X @fitzonsportsbsr; as well as Bluesky @fitzonsportsbsr.bsky.social for insights, articles and occasional livestreams, as well as columns here on medium.com.
