Dale O. Thomas (February 26, 1923 – March 4, 2004) was the head coach of the Oregon State wrestling team at Oregon State University from 1957 to 1990, and is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame member. He competed in the men's Greco-Roman light heavyweight at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He died of kidney and liver failure due to complications from primary sclerosing cholangitis at the age of 81.

College career

Thomas won nine national titles in collegiate freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling during his college career, including the 1943 and 1947 NAAU Championship at 175 lbs. He wrestled for the historic 1947 Cornell College team, coached by Paul Scott, that won both the NCAA and NAAU championships

Coaching career

Thomas was head coach for the Beavers from 1957 to 1990, earning 22 conference titles and having coached 10 individual NCAA champions, 116 conference champions, and 60 All Americans. His coaching dual meet record is 616–168–13, the 616 wins being an NCAA record for most dual meet wins in a coaching career. He led the beavers to finish in the NCAA top 10 on 14 occasions. He was also named NCAA Coach of the Year twice (1961 and 1970), and Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times.

Other accomplishments