Prior to a 27-year coaching career, John Finn capped off a successful collegiate wrestling career as an All-American on the University of Central Oklahoma's 1979 NAIA championship team. Finn began his coaching career assisting legendary coach Byron Graham at Edmond Memorial High School. He left Edmond in 1983 to assume the head coaching position for wrestling at Chickasha High School. His teams had two individual state champions and nine state place winners during his four years at Chickasha. Finn returned to his hometown in preparation for the opening of Westmoore High School in 1988. Finn's teams produced 11 individual state champions, 32 state place winners, 11 district team titles, a state runner-up finish in 2000 and runner-up finishes at the state duals in 2000 and 2002.