Rod Oldham was once referred to by a Parkersburg sportswriter as the "drill instructor" of South's wrestling team.

Yes, Rod "DI" Oldham was considered one of the most successful wrestling coaches in West Virginia wrestling's storied history.

A native of New Martinsville, Coach Oldham was a graduate of Ripley High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Glenville State College in 1959, and did graduate work both at Marshall University and West Virginia University.

In 1961, Rod began teaching driver's education at Parkersburg High School.

He also coached every sport at Hamilton Junior High School for the next six years.

Oldham was named the first head wrestling coach at Parkersburg South High School in 1967, and never looked back. His Patriot teams won four state championships (1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985) and Oldham was also named West Virginia Wrestling Coach of the Year four times.

Coach Oldham, who retired in 1986, coached 30 individual state champion, including four three-time winners (Jim Weatherholt, Brad Dornick, Rich Underwood, and Darren Moore).

The top wrestling leader in Class AAA is honored with the Rod Oldham Coach of the Year Award at the West Virginia High School State Tournament.

South’s wrestling teams, boys’ basketball teams, girls’ basketball teams and volleyball teams compete at what is now known as the Rod Oldham Athletic Center, named in his honor.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors the late Rod Oldham with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2003.