Jim Rogers is credited with starting the highly successful wrestling program at the University of Central Oklahoma.

After graduating from Oklahoma State, where he was a three-time All-American, he attended graduate school and served as assistant wrestling coach at the University of Utah. While at Utah, the team was ranked in the Top 10 for the first time in history and won the Western Athletic Conference championship.

But it was in 1972, when UCO made the decision to start a wrestling program, that Jim made a big difference in the sport of wrestling.

Despite not having had a wrestling team since 1930, UCO placed fourth in the NAIA with six All-Americans in its first year back on the mat. The Bronchos would never finish lower than fourth place during Rogers career.

He retired from coaching at UCO in 1978, but remained active in wrestling by officiating collegiate matches and tournaments.

In 1997, Rogers returned to coaching for Oklahoma City Public Schools where he remained until retirement in 2001.

Rogers shared his wrestling knowledge by conducting clinics while he served in the military and then later for the Edmond Junior High School wrestlers.