In Memoriam: SBVC Hall of Fame Wrestling Coach Bob Smith

Former SBVC Wrestling coach, Bob Smith, who led SBVC to seven State Championships, died on Dec. 10 according to family. According to SBVC Athletics historian, Roger Schmidt, Coach Smith was one of the most successful coaches in San Bernardino Valley College’s sports history, coaching and teaching at SBVC from 1955-1987. His coaching record in wrestling was remarkable. He established the college’s first intercollegiate wrestling team in 1955-56 and in sixteen seasons as head coach, his teams compiled a record of 183-18-3 in dual meet competitions. Over the final fourteen years of his tenure as wrestling coach, Coach Smith’s teams were undefeated in conference dual competitions (96-0), won fourteen conference titles, seven California State championships, and seven regional titles. In recognition of the State titles, he was named the California junior colleges’ wrestling “Coach of the Year” six times. Coach Smith’s wrestlers won twenty-two California State wrestling titles, five earned All American honors in wrestling at four year colleges, ten wrestled in U.S. Olympic trials, and one represented the United States in the Olympic Games. Bob Smith starred in football at Banning High School (Banning), Modesto College, and the University of Washington. After completing his undergraduate degree, he coached at Grants Pass High School in Oregon and at the Oregon Technical Institute. In 1955, he accepted an appointment to the physical education faculty at SBVC to assist in football and head the baseball program. He coached baseball for four years, finishing with a 51-45-5 win-loss record, and assisted in football under coaches Clyde Williams, Buck Weaver, and Joe Lash. Smith was head football coach at the college for two years (8-5 record) and coached golf for fifteen years (1978-92), the longest tenure in that position at SBVC. His golf teams won two conference championships. After retiring in 1987, he continued teaching part-time and coaching golf at SBVC and was the head golf coach at California State University, San Bernardino from 1991 through the spring of 1996. Coach Smith’s contributions to wrestling ranged beyond SBVC. In 1957, he formed the first association of wrestling officials in Southern California, and in 1972, he was instrumental in organizing and hosting a regional Olympic wrestling trials at SBVC. In 2001, he created the video series, “The Defensive Edge,” four videos on defense and counter-offense wrestling. For his contributions to amateur wrestling, Coach Smith was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in May 2004; you can see the complete list of 2004 honorees HERE. Coach Smith is survived by his wife, Sheila and Bob's children Bryan David Smith, who starred in football and wrestling at SBVC, and Suzanne Kay Smith. Sheila lives in the Palm Springs area and Bryan is a fisherman working out of Morro Bay.