Edward C. Gallagher

Edward C. Gallagher started Oklahoma State University on its road to greatness in the sport of wrestling when he put his first Aggie varsity wrestling team on the mat in 1916. He guided the Cowboys on a rapid march to national prominence, leading them to their first National Amateur Athletic Union title in 1925 and NCAA National title in 1928. His legendary coaching has established a strong winning tradition that has gained OSU national and international recognition.

In his 23 years of coaching, Gallagher produced 19 undefeated teams and posted an unparalleled dual meet record of 138-5-4. Prior to 1932, he claimed 68 consecutive victories. He coached in 13 NCAA tournaments, capturing 11 national titles. In addition, he lead his teams to six NAAU, four Missouri Valley and six Southwest Conference titles.

Individually, Gallagher guided 37 NCAA champs, 32 national amateur titlists and three Olympic gold medallists. Internationally, 15 Cowboys he coached were members of the U.S. Olympic teams in 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936. Gallagher was elected president of the American Association of Wrestling Coaches in 1928, 1929 and 1930. He was named Olympic wrestling coach in 1932 and 1936. He has also been inducted into Oklahoma State's Hall of Fame.

Despite Gallagher's endless list of accomplishments, he never wrestled a match in his life. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma A&M in 1909. That same year, he accepted a position as head track coach, assistant football coach and P.E. instructor at OSU. In 1913, he became the athletic director at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas and later returned to OSU in 1915 to serve as director of physical education and wrestling.

In 1938, he devoted his career to coaching wrestling full time. His success as a wrestling coach was largely due to his engineering knowledge, from which he applied the principles of leverages and counters to the development of over 300 wrestling holds.

Gallagher was famous for instilling true sportsmanship and high moral character in young wrestlers. He died in 1940 in Oklahoma City of pneumonia. His funeral was held in the A&M fieldhouse which now bears his name, Gallagher-Iba arena.