Hall of Fame
Robert C. “Bob” Smith
Criteria for consideration into the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame may be stringent, however Coach Robert C. “Bob” Smith goes beyond all measure. Coach Smith has impacted the sport of wrestling on nearly all levels and continues to influence wrestling as he enjoys retirement as Head Coach of the Ft. Hays State University Tigers.
As a wrestler, Coach Smith began to make his mark by earning state medals at 103 pounds in 1953 and 1954 as a wrestler for North Denver High School in Denver. From there, he continued his competitive wrestling career at Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley. While there, Coach Smith was the RMAC 115 pound runner-up in 1957 and RMAC 115 pound champion in 1958. Coach Smith began his illustrious career in education at Wray High School in Wray, Colorado in 1958.
It was at Wray that Coach Smith put his stamp on coaching the sport of wrestling. During his thirty-three years, he coached Wray to two third place team finishes, seven state runner-up team finishes, and ten team state championships from 1960 through 1988. These championship teams placed a phenomenal 139 wrestlers at the Colorado State Championships with 39 of these wrestlers capturing individual state titles. Coach Smith’s success at Wray earned him many state and national honors for his effort. These include:
| Scholastic Wrestling News – Wrestling Coach of the Year – 1976 |
| Colorado Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year – 8 times from 1965-1984 |
| National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Coach of the Year – 1984 |
| National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year, District Six – 1973 & 1984 |
| Colorado High School Athletic Directors Association Athletic Director of the Year – 1988 |
| National Federation Best Record of Active Coaches – 1991 |
| National Federation Sixth Overall Record Nationwide – 1991 |
| Induction to University of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame – 1989 |
| Induction to Colorado High School Coaches Hall of Fame – 1989 |
It was this record of achievement that directly led to Coach Smith becoming the Head Coach of the Ft. Hays State University Tiger wrestling program. Coach Smith masterfully rejuvenated a struggling program and built it into one of the most respected NCAA programs in the country. In his 8 years at the helm of the Tiger program, Coach Smith coached 13 All-Americans, 9 Academic All-Americans, and guided the Tigers to 10th, 12th, 11th, and 9th place National finishes in his last four years as coach from 1997 to 2000. The Tiger program continued academic team achievement by not placing below 14th academically with a 9th place finish in 1999. Coach Smith’s tremendous contribution to Kansas wrestling at all levels, not just at the collegiate level, was paramount to his induction to KWCA Hall of Fame. Additional honors that came his way include:
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year – 1997 |
| Induction to the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame – 1998 |
| Induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Lifetime Service Award – 2001 |
Coach Smith still impacts wrestling as he continues to garner recognition for his 41 year coaching career. During all of these years as a coach, official, and administrator, Coach Smith has had Marilyn, his wife of 43 years, by his side acting, as Coach says, “my best critic and fan, and ‘mom’ to hundreds of wrestlers.” Tragically, the Smith’s son Scott was killed in an automobile accident in 1982. Coach Smith currently enjoys retirement in Colorado, home to his son Shaun, also a wrestling coach, and his family, and daughter Marti and her family.