Oklahoma State is honoring wrestling legend John Smith by naming its brand new training facility after the two-time Olympic champion and five-time NCAA team title winning coach.
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State University announced April 25, that its new wrestling training facility will bear the name of legendary Cowboy wrestler and coach John Smith. Pending final approval from the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, the building will rise on the north side of Gallagher-Iba Arena and become the future headquarters for the storied Cowboy Wrestling program.
Athletic Director Chad Weiberg praised the move, noting that Smith’s impact on the program and the sport worldwide is impossible to overstate. “There is not a more fitting tribute than to have his name on the building that future generations of OSU wrestlers will enter every day,” Weiberg said.
Smith stands as one of the greatest American wrestlers in history. He claimed six consecutive world titles from 1987 to 1992, including Olympic gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Games and the 1992 Barcelona Games.
As a Cowboy competitor, the Del City native earned two NCAA individual championships, three All-American honors, and more than 150 career wins, the most in program history at the time. His international record was nearly flawless, and in 1990 he became the first wrestler ever to win the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete.
After retiring from competition with a career winning percentage above 95 percent, Smith returned to Stillwater in 1992 as head coach. Over the next 33 seasons he guided Oklahoma State to five NCAA team titles (1994, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), 33 individual national champions, 153 All-Americans, and a dual-meet record of 490-73-6—the most wins in school history and third all-time in Division I.
His squads also captured 23 conference championships and produced stars such as Johny Hendricks, Alex Dieringer, Coleman Scott, and many others who went on to Olympic and world-level success. Smith retired from the head-coaching position in April 2024.
The new facility is expected to cost approximately $16 million and span about 16,000 square feet, featuring six practice mats, a dedicated training area, and grandstand seating. Construction was approved in December 2025 with an anticipated 12 to 18 month build timeline.
Smith has remained connected to the program post-retirement, including as a volunteer assistant with the OSU women’s wrestling club. Recent coverage also notes fan and media excitement on X/Twitter with posts metioning the move as a “perfect tribute” to the face of Cowboy Wrestling.
The naming cements Smith’s enduring legacy at Oklahoma State, where his influence continues to shape wrestlers long after he stepped off the mat.