Reg Wicks, who spent nearly three decades as a coach with the Navy wrestling program, died April 24 at his home in Crownsville. Mr. Wicks, died of complications from Parkinson’s and Lyme diseases. He was 79.

Mr. Wicks was an assistant under legendary Navy wrestling coach Ed Peery from 1974 to 1987. When Mr. Peery was promoted to deputy director of the Naval Academy physical education department, Mr. Wicks was elevated to head coach and enjoyed tremendous success from 1988 through 2000.

Mr. Wicks compiled a career record of 175-60-5 and led Navy to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship in 1990, the last time the Midshipmen captured the team title at the tournament.

Navy was runner-up at the EIWA Championships four times (1988, 1991, 1992 and 1994) during the Wicks era. Pete Schuyler, who spent nine seasons as an assistant under Mr. Wicks, said it speaks volumes that his former boss was the last coach to lead Navy to an EIWA crown.

“Navy wrestling shone very brightly under the direction of Reg Wicks,” Mr. Schuyler said.

Mr. Schuyler described Mr. Wicks as a “real hustler” on the recruiting trail and noted that he landed many talented wrestlers.

“I remember that Reg would have an annual picnic at his house for the members of the wrestling team so he could get to know them on a more personal level.”

Mr. Wicks, who was named EIWA Coach of the Year in 1990, compiled a 10-1-2 dual meet record against archrival Army.

Reginald Paul Wicks, who was born and raised in Decorah, Iowa, was introduced to wrestling as a young boy. He was a four-year letterman at Decorah High and was a state runner-up as a senior.

Mr. Wicks went on to wrestle at Iowa State and was a three-time Big Eight Conference place-winner and three-time NCAA qualifier. In 1968, Mr. Wicks captured the NCAA championship at 160 pounds.

Mr. Wicks began his coaching career as an assistant at Mankato State in Minnesota, from which he earned a master’s degree in physical education.

Mr. Wicks had big shoes to fill in replacing Mr. Peery, who led the Midshipmen to eight EIWA championships and 27 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Wayne Hicks, a 1966 Naval Academy graduate, wrestled under Peery and later served as his volunteer assistant. Mr. Hicks worked alongside Mr. Wicks for almost the entire time the latter was with Navy wrestling, and said he always focused on the basics.

“Reg did not teach a bunch of snazzy moves, but made sure all the wrestlers were well-schooled in the fundamentals,” Mr. Hicks said. “Reg was an intense competitor as a wrestler and that was reflected in his coaching style.”

During the 12 years Mr. Wicks was head coach, Navy had 11 EIWA individual champions and five All-Americans. He mentored some of the greatest wrestlers in Navy history, including two-time All-American Scott Schleicher and three-time EIWA champion Dan Hicks.

“Reg wasn’t going to teach you a thousand moves, but he made darn sure you were fundamentally sound and mentally prepared,” Mr. Hicks said. “His approach was that we’re going to do what we do and we’re going to do it properly and at a high level.”

Wicks was a major reason Greg Gingeleskie chose to wrestle at the Naval Academy, noting the coach commanding immediate respect as a former Division I national champion.

Mr. Gingeleskie, who was an EIWA champ in 1999 and All-American in ‘98, still ranks third in Navy wrestling history with 127 career wins.

“Coach Wicks brought a tremendous amount of hands-on experience in terms of mental approach, grit and level of intensity you had to bring to the mat in order to be successful.”

Mr. Wicks was inducted into numerous wrestling halls of fame.

He also taught wrestling, judo and hand-to-hand combat until his retirement in 2010 at the Naval Academy.

Mr. Wicks married his high school sweetheart, the former Linda Grinna, on Aug. 3, 1968, and they were together for 55 years. The couple resided in Anne Arundel County and spent their retirement years traveling the world.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Wicks is survived by three children, Michelle Kapral, of Port Orange, Florida, Paul Wicks, of Brookeville, and Russell Wicks, of Odenton; brothers Raymond Wicks, of Woodbury, Minnesota, and Wes Wicks and Wayne Wicks, both of Decorah, Iowa; sister Charlotte Ball, of Grand Rapids Michigan; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Wicks, and his brother, Allan Wicks.