Dale Thomas - Coaching

There are few Oregonians who had as productive an athletic career as a participant, coach and administrator than Dale Thomas, who guided the Oregon State University wrestling program for 34 seasons.

Born in Marion, Iowa in 1923, Thomas wrestled collegiately at Cornell College of Mount Vernon, Iowa, from 1943-47. He won nine national titles in three different styles and was on the ’47 team that won the NCAA title. Following his graduation, he earned a master’s degree from Purdue University.

Thomas also continued as a wrestler and earned a spot on both the 1952 and ‘56 U.S. Olympic teams in the Greco-Roman discipline. He finished fifth at 192 pounds in 1956. He also competed on the U.S. team in the ’54 FILA World Championships.

Thomas moved to the head coaching position at OSU in 1957 and immediately worked toward making the Beavers a national power. Not only did his teams compile a record of 616-168-13 in dual meets, Thomas successfully lobbied the NCAA into moving the 1961 National Championship meet to Oregon State – the first time it had been held in the West. OSU also played host to the meet in 1980.

During the Thomas era, the Beavers won the Pacific Coast Conference, Pac-8 or Pac-10 title 22 times, and placed in the NCAA Tournament Top 10 14 times. They were in the Top 5 seven times and finished second in 1973.

Oregon State had 60 All-Americans under Thomas, who was voted NCAA Coach of the Year in 1961 and ’70. He served as an official in the 1960 and ’64 Summer Olympics. Thomas left an indelible mark on youth wrestling in the state as well, helping create a kid wrestling program, and a freestyle state tournament for youth competitors. He directed the state Cultural Exchange program between teams from Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Europe.

Thomas, who died in 2004 at age 81, was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

He is also a member of the Cornell College and State of Iowa Sports Hall of Fame, the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.