Matt Surber is one of the most successful coaches in Oklahoma’s rich wrestling history.

A state champion for Chickasha High School in 1993, Surber attended the University of Central Oklahoma and was a national runner-up in 1997. He qualified for the national tournament twice and was a member of UCO’s national championship team in 1995. Surber was also a two-time Academic All-American.

He began his coaching career as a graduated assistant at UCO in 1999 followed by stints in Texas and at Chickasha. He became an assistant coach at Tuttle High School for Hall of Fame coach Greg Henning in 2006 and took over as head coach in 2007.

After his first two teams finished fifth and third at the state tournament, Tuttle began a staggering run with 12 consecutive state championships, 11 straight Dual State titles, 10 straight Academic state championships and 13 consecutive regional titles. Under Surber, Tuttle was nationally ranked for eight straight years and compiled a 192-15 dual record. Surber coached 138 state placers, including 106 finalists and 65 state champions.

He was named Oklahoma Coach of the Year multiple times and was an Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association All-State coach in 2021. Surber was a finalist for the National Federation of State High School Associations Coach of the Year in 2016 and for USA Wrestling’s Developmental Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

Two examples of Tuttle’s dominance are winning the 2019 Dual State tournament without losing an individual match and outscoring its opponents 209-0, and the 2020 state championship team crowning a state record nine individual state champions. Surber left a legacy at Tuttle that continues today with 18 consecutive state tournament team titles and 17 Dual State championships in a row.

He is an active promoter of wrestling in Oklahoma, serving as OWCA president and executive director, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association advisory board member, OKUSA board member and national team coaching staff member, director and head coach of the Tiger Wrestling Club, NFHS wrestling rules committee member, and Cowboy Regional Training Center board member.