FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Taylor Miller (taylor.miller11@okstate.edu)
Feb. 27, 2014

Mike Jones Honored as Gallagher Award Recipient

STILLWATER—Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith has announced that Mike Jones is the recipient of the 2014 Gallagher Award, presented by Oklahoma State wrestling. Jones was a letterwinner for the Cowboys in 1982 and a graduate assistant coach in 1983.

The Gallagher Award is presented annually to an OSU alumnus who exemplifies the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions. Jones will receive the award prior to the dual vs. American on March 2.

"This year's Gallagher Award winner, Mike Jones, is one of those guys who is so deserving of this award," Smith said.  "He's spent more than 30 years in this sport and has been a great coach to many young people. I've never met anyone who didn't like him, and that tells you a lot about the person he is, his character, and how he views the sport. He's made wrestling a lot better, especially in the state of Oklahoma."

 "I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this award," Jones said. "Just to be mentioned with all these great OSU wrestlers is the greatest honor. Coach Gallagher has been called the 'Thomas Edison' of wrestling.  He invented moves we still use today. To be thought of as a successful, innovative OSU alumni coach is the highest honor."

During his time as a Cowboy, Jones tallied 17 career wins and was teammates with five NCAA individual champs, including Olympic champion Kenny Monday.  

"I was at OSU during a time when there were some legendary wrestlers," Jones said. "Just to be in the same room with the likes of LeeRoy Smith, Clar Anderson, Kenny Monday, Mike Sheets and Ricky Stewart was a great experience. I look back on the trials and tribulations that we all went through and how those hard times molded me into a coach. I was coached by the legendary Tommy Chesbro while at OSU, and his equally awesome assistant, Paul Martin. I was a graduate assistant when we recruited the current legendary head coach John Smith. There are so many great memories from my days as an OSU wrestler."

After his time at OSU, Jones went on to coach junior high and high school wrestling at several Oklahoma high schools, including Broken Arrow, which was named the No. 1 public school in the nation in 1998. Jones also spent eight years as a referee, calling three Oklahoma high school state championships.  

Currently, Jones is in his fourth year as the head wrestling coach at Bixby High School in Bixby, Okla.

Gallagher Award Recipients
1986 - Rex Peery 
1987 - Frank Lewis
 
1988 - Myron Roderick
 
1989 - Tommy Chesbro
 
1990 - Joe McDaniel 
 
1991 - John W. Divine
 
1996 - Ray Murphy
 
1997 - John Smith
 
1998 - Grady Peninger
 
1999 - Kenny Monday
 
2000 - Pat Smith
 
2001 - Kendall Cross
 
2002 - Mike Sheets
 
2003 - Doug Blubaugh
 
2004 - Grover Rains
 
2005 - Bobby Douglas
 
2006 - Charles Hetrick
 
2007 - Fred Davis 
2008 - Lee Roy Smith 
2009 - Bobby Stites 
2010 - Bill Harlow 
2011 - Eddie Griffin
2013 - Jim Shields
2014 - Mike Jones

-OSU-