Tommy Chesbro
October 28, 1939 - September 01, 2006
When he returned to Oklahoma State University as only its fourth head wrestling coach, Tommy Chesbro followed a trail blazed by not one, but three Hall of Famers.
But in 15 years with the Cowboy reins, Chesbro eclipsed the victory totals of all three of his illustrious predecessors.
From 1970 through 1984, his teams won 227 dual meets against only 26 defeats, a 90 per cent winning record. He closed his coaching career with a 43-match winning streak, including 22 victories in 1983. During that season, the Cowboys shut out 10 opponents, one of the foes posting the rare score of minus 1, thanks to a penalty against its coach.
Chesbro's Cowboys won the NCAA team championship in 1971 and placed among the top four teams a dozen more times. He coached 20 individual NCAA champions and 20 National AAU and USA Wrestling titlists, headed by World and Olympic champions John Smith and Kenny Monday and three-time NCAA heavyweight king Jimmy Jackson.
In 1992, while serving as the university's director of athletic facilities, Chesbro scored a memorable "post-career" coaching victory. Interim coaches Smith and Monday were away, training for the Olympic Games, so Chesbro led the Cowboys into a match against arch rival Oklahoma. Their 43-0 victory was largest margin in the 72-year history of wrestling's storied Bedlam Series.
Chesbro was a state high school champion wrestler and a starter on Oklahoma State's 1959 NCAA championship team. In eight years as a high school coach, he had a record of 51-23-8, bringing his victory total to 278. His teams won one state title and twice were runners-up.
For his success in carrying on the rich tradition of a great collegiate wrestling program, Tommy Edward Chesbro is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
1995
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1984
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
19
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1983
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
22
|
Wins
22
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1982
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
18
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
85.71
|
Season
1981
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
80
|
Season
1980
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
23
|
Wins
20
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
86.96
|
Season
1979
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
84.21
|
Season
1978
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
16
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
94.12
|
Season
1977
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
88.24
|
Season
1976
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
16
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
93.75
|
Season
1975
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
16
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
93.75
|
Season
1974
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
78.57
|
Season
1973
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
91.67
|
Season
1972
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
85.71
|
Season
1971
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
85.71
|
Season
1970
|
School
Oklahoma State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
9
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
253
|
Wins
227
|
Losses
26
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
89.72
|