Legendary Osceola coach and AD Jim Bird stepping down, moving to panhandle
BY BRANT PARSONS — Longtime Kissimmee Osceola wrestling coach Jim Bird announced on Sunday that he is leaving the school where he spent nearly 30 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic director.
Bird is moving to the Florida panhandle, where he has accepted a job as a PE teacher in Santa Rosa County. He wants to continue coaching but does not know where that will be yet.
“I’m grateful to all the families that have supported me throughout the years and the best tournament staff in the business,” Bird said. “I feel really good about the future of the Kowboys. It will be in good hands with a great administration - athletic director and coaches.”
The reason for the move is family with Bird’s sons spread out around the south and a desire to be close to his four (soon-to-be-five) grandchildren.
Javier, a two-time state champion, is the assistant wrestling coach at NCAA Division I program Arkansas-Little Rock, Angel is a pastor in Atlanta and Gabriel, himself a five-time state placer, in Chattanooga.
“My wife wanted an easy drive to see them play and grow up and help our youngest with his new baby,” Bird said. “(We are) still in Florida for the warm weather and a safe nice slower environment.”
The Spencer, West Virginia native first came to Florida in 1988 to teach at Osceola High School after graduating from NAIA Glenville State College as a four-year starter in the defensive secondary. He was an assistant football and wrestling coach for the Kowboys before taking over the wrestling program in 1991.
In 1994, Bird moved to Pennsylvania to coach football at Bethel Park High and wrestling at Waynesburg, eventually returning to Osceola in 1997.
“I’m blessed for all the athletes past and present for believing in me and the Kowboy way,” Bird said.
Since 2007, Bird’s Kowboy programs have produced at least one individual state champion in 16 straight seasons, including a team state title in 2009.
Along with success on the mat, Bird and his staff also started the Christmas Knockout Classic which has become one of the premier wrestling tournaments in the southeast and the group hosts tournaments and camps throughout the year.
Kissimmee Osceola has hosted every edition of the FHSAA State Wrestling Duals Championships since its start in the 2017-18 season.
The Kowboy wrestling staff has also run the FHSAA State Wrestling IBT Tournament at Silver Spurs Arena since the 2014-15 season.
“He’s always worked hard to bring his kids more opportunity and exposure,” Rick Tribit said about Bird’s work in bringing events to Kissimmee. “He started those things to bring more chances to his wrestlers.”
“It’s never about him, it’s always kid-centered and always a team effort.”
Tribit, the athletic director at Celebration High School, coached on Bird’s staff for 10 years and has known him since they first came up in the coaching ranks in 1988.
“He’s never had an ego, everything starts and ends with the kids,” Tribit said. “He’s a great coach and athletic director and he’s impossible to replace.”
