Wooooo….. Bang ! Bang ! Bang
John Smith is Pistol Hero !
High School
Smith wrestled at Del City High Schoolin Del City, Oklahoma. While in high school Smith had a 105–5 record, and was a two-time Oklahoma state champion.
A As College
Smith competed collegiately at Oklahoma State University. While at Oklahoma State University, Smith's college career record was 154-7-2. At the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Smith was a three-time national finalist and a two-time national champion. After losing in the 1985 finals to future US House representative Jim Jordan, he finished his college career with 90 consecutive victories.
Senior level
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 is the only American wrestler to ever win six consecutive World and Olympic 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 2022, his overall dual meet record was 490-73-6. He had also coached 33 NCAA Division I individual national champions, and coached his wrestlers to 152 All-American honors. Smith has brought 21 team conference titles and 129 individual conference championships to Stillwater as a coach, as well. On April 11, 2024 he announced his retirement and departure from OSU.
1992
Summer Olympics
1991
World Wrestling Championships
Pan American Games
Pan American Championships
1990
World Wrestling Championships
1990 Goodwill Games wrestling tournament
Grand Masters of Olympic Wrestling
UWW Master of Technique award winner
Amateur Athletic Union James E. Sullivan Award winner
1989
World Wrestling Championships
1988
Summer Olympics
NCAA Division I
Big Eight Conference
1987
World Wrestling Championships
Pan American Games
Pan American Championships
NCAA Division I
Big Eight Conference
1986
Goodwill Games
1985
NCAA Division I
Big Eight Conference
Other honors
Smith was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame with the class of 1997.
In 2020, Smith was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
The high school Smith graduated from, Del City High School in Oklahoma, named its field house after him.
Smith has a wrestling move named after him, the John Smith low single.
Woooooo…. Bang ! Bang ! Bang !
Pistol Pete
Dem Boyz 4-Life