Tom Hazell was a Big Eight champion and two-time All-American for Oklahoma State University, finishing sixth at heavyweight in 1973 and 1974.

He placed second at the legendary Tbilisi Tournament, considered by many to be the toughest tournament in the world, and was a Pan American Champion.

Hazell was a state champion at heavyweight for El Camino College while also being named state MVP and earning All-America honors.

A USA Wrestling and AAU All-American, Hazell rounded off his wrestling career with a pair of USA Wrestling Veterans national championships and a fourth-place finish in the World Veterans Championships.

Hazell was a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma State, where he worked with three-time NCAA champion and National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Jimmy Jackson.

He was the head wrestling coach for 11 years at El Camino College and for 10 years at West Torrance High School in Torrance, California. Hazell was also the assistant freshman wrestling coach at West Torrance.

Hazell has also worked as a wrestling official and as the president and instructional chairman of the South Bay Wrestling Officials Association.

He received his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in history from Oklahoma State, and a master's degree in education-physical education from Azusa Pacific University.

Hazell is currently a professor at El Camino College in the health sciences and athletics division, instructing courses in fitness and conditioning as well as physical education, recreation and contemporary health.