JOHN SMITH NAMED 1998 USA WRESTLING FREESTYLE COACH OF THE YEAR 
  John Smith of Stillwater, Okla., has been named 1998 Freestyle Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. This is the first time that Smith has received this prestigious award. 
  Smith served as the head coach of the 1998 U.S. Freestyle World team, which placed third in the World Championships, held in Tehran, Iran. The United States claimed three medals, with Sammie Henson winning the gold at 119 pounds, and bronze medals earned by Cary Kolat at 138.75 pounds and Lincoln McIlravy at 152 pounds. 
  He was also the head coach of the 1998 U.S. Goodwill Games team, which captured the team title and featured three individual gold medalists: Kolat, McIlravy and Les Gutches. The U.S. defeated teams from Russia, Iran and Turkey in dual meets during the Goodwill Games. 
  He was a co-coach of the 1997 U.S. World Cup team that won the team title and made history by winning every bout in the gold-medal match against Russia. 
  He is currently the head coach at Oklahoma State Univ., one of the most successful Div. I wrestling programs in history. Smith led the Cowboys to the 1994 NCAA team title and second place at the 1998 NCAA Championships.  
  Smith was selected by USA Wrestling as a co-head coach of the 2000 Olympic team, working alongside co-head coaches Dan Gable and Greg Strobel. The three coaches will also serve as the co-head coaches for the 1999 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which will compete in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8-11. 
  Smith was considered by many the best freestyle wrestler in U.S. history. He claimed gold medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, and won four World gold medals (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991). His six straight World-level titles is unprecedented. He also won titles at the Pan American Games, Goodwill Games and World Cup.  
  Smith has received all of the major awards available for amateur athletes in the United States. He was the first wrestler to win the James E. Sullivan Award, the U.S. Olympic Committee SportsMan of the Year Award, and the World Trophy, all which recognize the best amateur athlete in the nation. He was also the first U.S. wrestler named Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by FILA, the international federation. 
  Smith was a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, and originally hails from Del City, Okla. He is a member of the most successful wrestling family in U.S. history. Four Smith brothers were All-Americans at Oklahoma State, including his younger brother Pat, who won a record four NCAA titles, and older brother Lee Roy, also an NCAA champion. Lee Roy was a World silver medalist, and Pat was second in the 1996 Olympic Trials. Youngest brother Mark, who was coached by John at Oklahoma State, was a three-time All-American. 
  PAST FREESTYLE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 
  1998 - John Smith, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids 
  1997 - Greg Strobel, Bethlehem, Pa., New York Athletic Club 
  1996 - Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo., National Freestyle Coach 
  1995 - Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo., National Freestyle Coach 
  1994 - Gene Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo., Athletes In Action 
  1993 - Joe Seay, Oklahoma City, Okla., Sunkist Kids 
  1992 - Bobby Douglas, Ames, Iowa, Sunkist Kids