Gene Knight has taught and coached in the Oklahoma City public school system for more than 40 years. He began his coaching career at Southeast High School in 1969 and in 1986 coached for U.S. Grant High School. During that time, he amassed an overall record of 179-160-1 and led the two schools to eight All-City Championships, four Capital Conference Championships, one Yukon tournament Championship, one Regional Championship and four top ten team finishes at the State Championships. Knight has coached six State Champions and was awarded the 1988 All-State Coaches honor, as well as the Ed Jacobson Oklahoma Coach of the Year in 1998. In his own wrestling career, Knight wrestled in high school and was named an All-City Champion, Mid-State Conference Champion, and placed second in Regionals and second in State. After playing football at the University of Oklahoma, Knight found himself in the 1970 Mexico City International Games wrestling in the heavyweight class, and earning gold medal. For his longtime support of wrestling, Gene Knight is honored with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.