John Smith's heart for Oklahoma State wrestling on display at retirement: 'It made me'

STILLWATER — John Smith has never been one to hide his emotions.

Usually that has shown in his coaching style, the excitement, intensity or even the anger he feels in his corner of the mat as Oklahoma State’s wrestling coach.

Yet, it was a different emotion that overwhelmed Smith on Monday morning, even before he took the stage for his retirement press conference. Tears filled his eyes as the end of an era hit home for the legendary Cowboy wrestler-turned-coach.

More than 40 years since he first became a Cowboy, Smith spoke about his retirement, which was announced last week but became real in a press conference Monday morning in the theater room of Boone Pickens Stadium.

“Most people retire, they pack their stuff up in a box and they walk out of the office,” Smith said. “I get a chance to tell a little bit of my story.

“My journey here began when I was 10 years old. … Spending time in Gallagher Hall was remarkable for me. And now, Gallagher-Iba Arena, I lived in this facility.

“I didn’t make it, it made me. I got to be a part of something that was incredible. I got to be part of a legacy.” 

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‘My first hero’

John Smith began his opening remarks by introducing his family, which took up a large section of seats. From his mother to his wife and several of his nine siblings with their families, Smith asked each of them to stand and be recognized.

Then he ended with his older brother, Lee Roy.

Lee Roy began the Smith family legacy at OSU. He signed with the Cowboys when John was just 10 years old, and that planted the seed that would blossom into John’s illustrious career.

John went on to become one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time, winning two NCAA championships, two Olympic gold medals, six consecutive world championships and 100 international matches.

All of that before becoming one of college wrestling’s greatest coaches with five national championships and 490 dual victories over 33 years. 

“My first hero,” John said as he acknowledged Lee Roy.

John later coached two of his brothers, three nephews and two sons at OSU.

“That’s been really hard,” he said. “When you grow up in a family of wrestlers and you’ve got a rattlesnake for a mother, and my nephews or my brothers or my sons are losing, and you’re the coach, it’s been hell. 

“I couldn’t say anything that she hadn’t said. She’s a winner.”

More:Where wrestling coach John Smith ranks among OU, Oklahoma State coaches in national titles

‘You’re training, I’m training’

Smith’s work ethic, competitiveness and drive were a strong theme of the day as his career was celebrated.

He told a story of waking up at 2 a.m. to run stairs on the east side of Gallagher-Iba Arena when training for the Olympics. 

He would leave a window in the training room open, so he could climb in, because the gym doors were locked in the middle of the night. 

“I hated those stairs,” Smith said. “Those stairs made me iron-tough.”

But Smith’s desire to be the best in the world drove him to an unmatched level of work.

“I was running at 2 a.m., because it was 4 p.m. in Russia,” Smith said. “You’re training, I’m training.

“I don’t know what time it was in Russia, in case any of you are trying to figure it out.”

More:What do Oklahoma high school wrestling coaches say about John Smith's retirement from OSU?

Vests all around

As a tribute to John Smith, several members of the OSU athletic department and the wrestling program wore vests Monday morning — the look that became Smith’s go-to style. 

Smith showed up in a white dress shirt and gray vest with Pistol Pete in a singlet on the left side of his chest.

The vest salutes came from OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg and interim head coach Coleman Scott, who is widely expected to be the choice to fill Smith’s void leading the program. The future was not discussed in detail, but Oklahoma law requires Smith’s vacancy to be posted for five working days before a hire can be made.

Scott said he, too, is a fan of the vest, but chose not to wear them when coaching because of Smith.

“That’s his thing, being the fashion icon he is,” Scott said with a smile.

More:Mussatto: John Smith, steward of Oklahoma State wrestling, steps away 'complete'

‘Feeling complete’

John Smith showed sadness as he spoke, but not because of uncertainty in his decision.

“I might get bored (in retirement), but I’m not gonna miss coaching,” he joked.  

He is at peace with what he has done at Oklahoma State, and is happy with the program he is leaving to the next person. Smith talked about the importance of not handing over “a pile of crap.” 

After finishing 14th and 18th at the NCAA Championships the two previous years, the Cowboys improved to 10th and appear to be a program on the rise as Smith walks away.

“I’m just so glad I get to walk away knowing it’s not what I did for anyone, it’s what it did for me,” Smith said. “Oklahoma State wrestling, Oklahoma State athletics, it’s what it did for me. It’s so rewarding to walk away going, ‘This school made a difference in my life and my family. 

“Coaching 33 years, I walk away complete. I got to do it when I wrestled. I got to walk away being an Olympic champion. And I get to walk away feeling complete.”