Brad Smith was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, Iowa on Monday. Smith has excelled at all levels in wrestling as a wrestler, coach, and mentor.
Brad Smith is the greatest coach in the history of Iowa High School wrestling.
Smith was a successful three-sport standout (wrestling, football, and baseball) at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights(Chicago), Illinois. As a two-time state champion Smith was listed as first team All American as a Junior Olympic champion. He was recruited by powerhouse programs across the country in 1972.
Smith became a member of the first ever recruiting class for Gary Kurdelmeier at the University of Iowa.
Smith was coached by three Hall of Fame coaches at Iowa that would leave their mark on the sport: Gary Kurdelmeier and his assistant coaches Dan Gable and J Robinson.
In 1976 Smith won an NCAA National title at 142 lbs. for the Hawks. Coach Smith was on the first two NCAA titles ever won by Iowa Wrestling in 1975 and 1976 that was the beginning of the Iowa Wrestling dynasty.
Coach Smith began his coaching career at Lisbon in 1978 replacing another legend, Al Baxter when I was in sixth grade. Lisbon won seven traditional state titles in 13 seasons. Among his wrestlers was Royce Alger (Class of 1983) who went on to be a two-time NCAA National champion for Dan Gable at the University of Iowa and a 1990 World Silver medalist.
Coach Smith was the only wrestling coach at Lisbon until 1987. He alone coached the high school, junior high, and kids club. We will not see that happen again with those types of results.
Smith became head coach at City High School in Iowa City in 1991 and led his teams to three traditional state championships in 21 seasons.
Coach Smith returned to Lisbon in 2012. Lisbon won the state title in 2018 that was the 12th state title in Smith’s career. A record in Iowa high school wrestling history.
Coach Smith became the all-time winningest coach in Iowa high school wrestling history by winning over 700 duals in his career.
Coach Smith was named as the National Wrestling Coach of the Year two times in his career.
I also want to add the style influence that Coach Smith had on Iowa High School wrestling. Smith was a wide open wrestler that would trade takedowns as a Hawkeye as opposed to mat wrestling. That was rare in the 70’s.
Smith brought that same style to Lisbon and was the first in Iowa history that I know of that had his wrestlers get a takedown and let their opponent up to go for another takedown. The freestyle influence that changed Iowa high school wrestling in the 1980’s was started by Brad Smith at Lisbon.
In April of 1978 Al Baxter called his friend J Robinson, an assistant coach for the University of Iowa. Baxter told Robinson that he was leaving Lisbon and wanted to know if he had any recommendations at Iowa. Lisbon had won five of the last six state titles and Coach Baxter wanted to leave the program in good hands.
Brad Smith was sitting in Robinson’s office at the exact time of that call. Without that timing of being in that office I highly doubt Smith would have ended up at Lisbon. Timing as they say is everything.
Coach Baxter was in charge of finding his replacement. He only interviewed one person. Brad Smith.
I am grateful that fate was on our side and Coach Smith was in J Robinson’s office that day in April of 1978. The influence, legacy, and history of that one event is beyond description.
Coach Smith is the State of Iowa wrestling coach record holder for:
Most dual meet wins
Most traditional state titles
Most individual state champions
Most four-time state champions
I see no doubt that Brad Smith is the greatest coach in Iowa High School wrestling history.
Congratulations to Coach Smith for being named for this honor.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
