Tommy Evans

January 21, 1931 - March 18, 2008

As a champion athlete and a champion coach, Tommy Evans left an indelible imprint on the sport of wrestling. Evans wrestled for the University of Oklahoma in 1951, '52 and '54, missing the 1953 season because of injury. He won 42 of 43 matches and scored 20 falls, an aggressive style which he carried forward into his coaching career.

He was National Collegiate champion in 1952 and '54 and both times was voted outstanding wrestler of the NCAA tournament, at that time only the second athlete to win such honors twice.

His wrestling career carried Evans around the world, to Helsinki, Finland, in 1952, and to Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, as a member of United States Olympic teams. At Melbourne, he wrestled in both freestyle and Greco-Roman competition.

In the 1952 Olympic finals at Helsinki, Evans took his Swedish opponent to the mat seven times, but under the archaic scoring system then in use was not awarded a point and was forced to settle for the silver medal at 147 pounds. Evans also won three National AAU titles and a gold medal in the 1955 Pan American Games.

He succeeded Port Robertson as coach at Oklahoma in 1960 and led his first team to the NCAA title. Only Art Griffith at Oklahoma State ever had achieved that feat. Skipping the 1962 season for active duty as a pilot, Evans returned in 1963 and coached 10 more years, compiling a record of 140 victories, 39 defeats, two ties and two more NCAA team championships. He also coached U.S. teams in the 1967 World Championships and the 1968 Olympic Games.

When he retired from coaching, Evans returned to his other much loved occupation, as a full-time pilot qualified in aircraft from jets to helicopters.

For his dual achievements as a great wrestler and a great coach, Jay Thomas Evans is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
1976
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1954
School
Oklahoma
Tournament
Division I
Weight
147
Place
1
Season
1952
School
Oklahoma
Tournament
Division I
Weight
147
Place
1
Season
1951
School
Oklahoma
Tournament
Division I
Weight
137
Place
2

College Season Records:

Season
1954
School
Oklahoma
Class
Senior
Bouts
12
Wins
12
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
5
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1952
School
Oklahoma
Class
Junior
Bouts
14
Wins
14
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
9
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1951
School
Oklahoma
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
17
Wins
16
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
6
Win PCT.
94.12
Place
2nd
Season
Career
Bouts
43
Wins
42
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
20
Win PCT.
97.67

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1972
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
13
Wins
9
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
69.23
Season
1971
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
8
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.33
Season
1970
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
11
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
64.71
Season
1969
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
9
Wins
8
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
88.89
Season
1968
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
13
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
86.67
Season
1967
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
17
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
94.44
Season
1966
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
16
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
94.12
Season
1965
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
14
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
82.35
Season
1964
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
9
Losses
7
Ties
1
Win PCT.
52.94
Season
1963
School
Oklahoma
Division
Division I
Duals
13
Wins
10
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
76.92
Season
1961
School
Oklahoma
Division
Duals
14
Wins
10
Losses
3
Ties
1
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
1960
School
Oklahoma
Division
Duals
15
Wins
13
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
86.67
Season
Career
Duals
180
Wins
138
Losses
40
Ties
2
Win PCT.
76.67

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations