Mizzou Extends Wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith
11/30/2022 8:38:00 AM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Department of Athletics has extended the contract of Wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith through the 2026-27 season, Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois announced.
"Brian's values-driven approach and commitment to academics, athletics and leadership development epitomize our department mission," Reed-Francois said. "Through an intentional approach, he's built Tiger Style into a culture of excellence producing eleven consecutive conference championships, national champions, record academic achievements and an engaged and passionate wrestling fan base. With Brian's commitment to continuous growth in every facet of the program, the future is bright for Mizzou Wrestling."
"Denise and I are truly blessed with how Mizzou and the city of Columbia have embraced and supported us," Smith said. "They have made this a special place to raise a family, to have so many special friends and to have a place to call home. The support and the belief in Tiger Style from Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois and the administration, including President Choi and Tiger Style supporters all over, allows our amazing staff to recruit the best and brightest young men to attend Mizzou. I am a believer that a positive culture wins. Tiger Style continues to grow, evolve and get better and I believe we will win an NCAA Championship for Mizzou. This also means I get to climb the Hearnes stairs every day for many more years...grateful!"
Since being introduced as Missouri's head coach on May 5, 1998, Smith has coached 29 All-Americans to 60 top-eight performances and six Tigers to nine National Championships. Mizzou has finished with a dual-meet record at or above .500 for 21 consecutive years, dating back to the 2001-02 season.
Missouri returned to the Big 12 Conference in wrestling last season, winning 11 duals and earning its 11th-straight league championship. Smith was tabbed as Big 12 Coach of the Year and the Tigers closed out the season placing ninth at the NCAA Championship, a seventh-consecutive Top Ten program finish. Keegan O'Toole was the National Champion at 165 pounds and another freshman, Rocky Elam, earned All-America honors for his fourth-place finish at 197 pounds.
The winningest coach in program history by both wins (319) and winning percentage (.737), Smith became the first 300-win coach in program history, eclipsing the milestone on January 8, 2021, in a 30-6 triumph over No. 21 Central Michigan. He earned six consecutive conference Coach of the Year honors from 2012-17, including five straight by the Mid-American Conference.
Six Tigers wrestlers – Ben Askren, Mark Ellis, Max Askren, J'den Cox, Drake Houdashelt and O'Toole – have reached the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling, collecting nine NCAA Championships under Smith. Additionally, he helped guide B. Askren and Cox to the Olympics. B. Askren was the first Olympian in program history, competing at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008 and Cox won bronze at the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016.
Smith has been honored as the top wrestling coach in the NCAA twice in his career, first as the Dan Gable Coach of the Year by W.I.N. Magazine in 2007 and by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2017. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 20, 2022.
UP NEXT
Mizzou returns to the mat against West Virginia on Friday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. CT inside the Hearnes Center. For more information on single-match tickets or season-ticket options contact the Mizzou Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS or tickets@missouri.edu.
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