Mussatto: John Smith, steward of Oklahoma State wrestling, steps away 'complete'
STILLWATER — John Smith took a deep breath and motioned toward his mom, Madeline Smith.
“OK, mom, stand up,” said Smith, his voice cracking.
“I want to introduce my mother, mother of 10, Madeline Smith.”
Gathered in an OSU auditorium Monday for Smith’s retirement press conference were dozens of members of the Smith family, Oklahoma’s first family of wrestling. Madeline, the matriarch, was the first person John Smith mentioned in his near hour-long remarks.
Smith told stories of his family. Of his childhood in Del City. Of going to Gallagher Hall as a kid. Of being in awe of those wrestlers of old, just as so many would be in awe of Smith — a national champion at OSU, a world champion and an Olympic gold medalist.
“The greatest wrestler of all time,” OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said.
More: John Smith's heart for Oklahoma State wrestling on display at retirement: 'It made me'
After his wrestling career, Smith coached the Cowboys for 33 years until it was announced last week that Smith, a six-time national champion coach, was stepping down.
Smith was a throwback coach, demanding yet revered. For decades he was the steward of the program. In many ways, John Smith was to OSU wrestling what Madeline is to the Smith family — the glue that binds.
“She’s a winner,” Smith said of his mom.
She was also tough on her kids.
“When I say rattlesnake, I mean it,” John Smith said.
Madeline Smith worked for 62 years in the delivery room at Mercy Hospital. John Smith’s dad, Lee Roy Smith Sr., died in 2019. Lee Roy Sr. helped champion the sport of wrestling as much as anyone.
John credited his parents for the discipline and passion in which he approached his job as OSU’s wrestling coach.
Smith’s impact on the program was more than immense. It was immeasurable.
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You could see by how many of Smith’s current and former wrestlers were there Monday to support their coach.
Perhaps the biggest question for Smith, 58, was why step down now?
“It was the right time,” Smith said. “That’s all I could think about the last three years is just, ‘You can’t leave until it’s a better place. Don’t give (the next guy) a pile of crap. Give them something to go with.’
“I wasn’t thinking about winning the national championship, I wasn’t thinking about getting second or bringing a trophy home, I was just thinking, ‘I’ve gotta get it in a better place.’ That’s all I wanted."
A lot of coaches say stuff like that. Smith did it.
With Coleman Scott, Smith’s likely successor, on staff and the Cowboys coming off a strong season, Smith felt he had righted the ship for its next captain.
“Coaching 33 years, I walked away complete,” Smith said.
Like the OSU coaching legends before him, names like Ed Gallagher and Art Griffith, Myron Roderick and Tommy Chesbro, Smith is leaving the program as he found it.
“I didn’t make it,” Smith said of OSU wrestling. “It made me.”
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: John Smith, steward of Oklahoma State wrestling, steps away 'complete'
