Bill Smith (1985) - Hall of Fame

Bill Smith

Induction:
1985
Class:
1951

Bill Smith powered his way to two NCAA wrestling titles in 1949 and 1950 and added three national freestyle firsts while compiling an undefeated dual record of 52-0-1. He won the Olympic Gold Medal at 160.5 pounds in the 1952 games in Helsinki. As a coach, his Rock Island, Ill., team produced a 57-5 record and a state title. Moving to the collegiate ranks, he coached Nebraska to four winning seasons and then spent 10 years as mentor to the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., winning seven titles. In 1968, he was named coach of the Canadian Olympic team. He then returned to high school coaching in California.