John Smith (wrestler)


John William Smith is an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach. He is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, and a six-time world level champion with two Olympic Championships and four World Wrestling Championships. As of October 2019, he has won more world-level gold medals in wrestling than any other American.

Wrestling career

College

Smith attended Oklahoma State University, where he competed in folkstyle wrestling. At Oklahoma State University, he became an NCAA Division I national runner-up, and a two-time national champion. Smith's college career record was 154-7-2.

International

Beginning in his teenage years, Smith competed internationally in freestyle wrestling. Highlights of his career include four UWW world gold medals, and two Olympic gold medals. At the Senior level his international freestyle wrestling record was 100-5. He won 6 consecutive world championships as a competitor.

Coaching career

Smith became the head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University in 1991. During his tenure, Oklahoma State University won five NCAA Division I national team titles, with titles coming in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. As of 2020, his overall dual meet record was 439-65-6. He had also coached 32 NCAA Division I individual national champions, and coached his wrestlers to 129 All-America honors.

Awards and honors

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Smith's older brother Lee Roy Smith and younger brother Pat Smith are NCAA Division I national champions. Smith's youngest brother, Mark, was also a successful NCAA Division I wrestler, having placed in the top five nationally three times. Smith's nephews Mark Perry and Chris Perry are also NCAA Division I national champions. His son, Joe Smith, earned NCAA All-American honors twice while wrestling at Oklahoma State under his coaching. His nephew J.T. Realmuto is an all-star Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.