WHEREAS, in 1992, John Smith became the head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University (OSU) where OSU produced five NCAA team championships, 33 NCAA individual championships, 490 dual wins, 153 All–America honors, 23 team conference championships, 132 individual conference championships and two Hodge Trophy winners; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith's accomplishments place him among the top coaches in the history of the sport; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith's 490–73–6 career dual record gives him the most wins in school history and the third-most wins in the history of Division I wrestling; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith's numbers for All–Americans, conference championships, and individual conference champions are the most at OSU by a wide margin and are believed to be the most in NCAA wrestling history; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith also coached at the world level, coaching Team USA at the Olympics in 2000 and 2012, at the World Championships in 1998, 2009, 2010, and 2011, at the World Cup in 1997, and coaching the USA Women's Cadet World Team in 2018; and

WHEREAS, prior to taking over as Oklahoma State head coach, Coach Smith put together a wrestling career that squarely places him in the conversation for the greatest American wrestler ever; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith won six consecutive world championships as a competitor from 1987 to 1992, including gold medals at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, gold medals at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, two gold medals in two attempts at the Pan American Games, two gold medals in two attempts at the Goodwill Games, and two NCAA individual championships for Oklahoma State; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith's Cowboy wrestling career also included three All–America honors, three conference championships, the NWCA Collegiate Wrestler of the Year award, and more than 150 career wins to rank as the most in program history; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a two-time selection as the National Wrestling Coaches Association coach of the year, and a 15–time selection as conference coach of the year; and

WHEREAS, Coach Smith was also the first wrestler to be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and is a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate join in recognizing the many accomplishments of Coach John Smith and his impact on wrestling, and to extend sincere appreciation for his work and dedication.