As a champion athlete and a champion coach, Tommy Evans left an indelible imprint on the sport of wrestling. Evans wrestled for the University of Oklahoma in 1951, '52 and '54, missing the 1953 season because of injury. He won 42 of 43 matches and scored 20 falls, an aggressive style which he carried forward into his coaching career.

He was National Collegiate champion in 1952 and '54 and both times was voted outstanding wrestler of the NCAA tournament, at that time only the second athlete to win such honors twice.

His wrestling career carried Evans around the world, to Helsinki, Finland, in 1952, and to Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, as a member of United States Olympic teams. At Melbourne, he wrestled in both freestyle and Greco-Roman competition.

In the 1952 Olympic finals at Helsinki, Evans took his Swedish opponent to the mat seven times, but under the archaic scoring system then in use was not awarded a point and was forced to settle for the silver medal at 147 pounds. Evans also won three National AAU titles and a gold medal in the 1955 Pan American Games.

He succeeded Port Robertson as coach at Oklahoma in 1960 and led his first team to the NCAA title. Only Art Griffith at Oklahoma State ever had achieved that feat. Skipping the 1962 season for active duty as a pilot, Evans returned in 1963 and coached 10 more years, compiling a record of 140 victories, 39 defeats, two ties and two more NCAA team championships. He also coached U.S. teams in the 1967 World Championships and the 1968 Olympic Games.

When he retired from coaching, Evans returned to his other much loved occupation, as a full-time pilot qualified in aircraft from jets to helicopters.

For his dual achievements as a great wrestler and a great coach, Jay Thomas Evans is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.