Bobby Douglas

March 26, 1942 - Present

The Making of a Champion is the title of his books, and it also is the pattern of Bobby Douglas' life. From a small town in eastern Ohio, and a small college in West Virginia, he rose to become a dominant athlete of the 1960s, earning national and international acclaim.

He won two state high school titles, and was All-State in football and baseball. He emerged on the national scene as 1962 NAIA champion for West Liberty State. A year later, he reached the NCAA finals, and his 13-8 duel with the defending champion from a larger school was a classic. Transferring to Oklahoma State, he won the Big Eight, but was knocked out of the 1965 nationals by injury, closing his collegiate career at 72-2.

It was in the international styles where Douglas earned worldwide renown, for his knowledge of the sport and his technical skills ... which he later would share with another generation as coach, author and clinician. He won three national Freestyle titles and represented the United States on two Olympic teams, placing fourth in 1964, and six World teams, winning a silver, a bronze and a fourth place. He was captain of the '68 Olympic team and his career record was 303 victories, 17 defeats.

He became head wrestling coach at Santa Barbara in 1973. A year later, he moved to Arizona State, which he led to the only NCAA team trophy won by a western school. Douglas also launched the Sunkist Kids club on a long series of national Freestyle championships. He moved on to Iowa State and maintained its great tradition. He was an assistant coach for 10 World and Olympic Teams, was World Cup coach in 1987 and Olympic coach in 1992.

He was the first black American to wrestle in the Olympics, the first to captain our Olympic team, and the first to coach wrestling at a major university. He showed, by example, that others could reach such goals.

As a wrestler of notable achievement, and as an outstanding teacher and leader, Bobby Eddie Douglas is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
2003
Award
Glen Brand Inductee
Chapter/Region
National
Year
1987
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1963
School
West Liberty State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
130
Place
2

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
2006
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
11
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
61.11
Season
2005
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
16
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
88.89
Season
2004
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
16
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
2003
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
8
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
44.44
Season
2002
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
17
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
77.27
Season
2001
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
19
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
82.61
Season
2000
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
20
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
90.91
Season
1999
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
26
Wins
20
Losses
5
Ties
1
Win PCT.
76.92
Season
1998
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
12
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
60
Season
1997
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
10
Losses
7
Ties
1
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1996
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
12
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
63.16
Season
1995
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
17
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80.95
Season
1994
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
14
Wins
7
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1993
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
13
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
76.47
Season
1992
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
12
Wins
5
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
41.67
Season
1991
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
11
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
61.11
Season
1990
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
18
Losses
2
Ties
2
Win PCT.
81.82
Season
1989
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
16
Losses
4
Ties
2
Win PCT.
72.73
Season
1988
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
17
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
89.47
Season
1987
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
12
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
63.16
Season
1986
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
8
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.33
Season
1985
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
20
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
90.91
Season
1984
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
17
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
73.91
Season
1983
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
16
Wins
8
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1982
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
10
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
58.82
Season
1981
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
15
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
75
Season
1980
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
12
Wins
10
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
83.33
Season
1979
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
12
Wins
9
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
75
Season
1978
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
16
Wins
15
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
93.75
Season
1977
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
13
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
86.67
Season
1976
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
15
Losses
0
Ties
0
Win PCT.
100
Season
1975
School
Arizona State
Division
Division I
Duals
14
Wins
7
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
50
Season
1974
School
Cal State-Santa Barbara
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
3
Losses
16
Ties
0
Win PCT.
15.79
Season
Career
Duals
604
Wins
427
Losses
168
Ties
9
Win PCT.
70.7

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations