Does anyone know why Pat Smith is leaving OSU. On the press releases it kind of sounds like he had to be doing something wrong, so i was just wondering if anyone knew what it was. It Also says he was an unpaid assistant, i was wondering why he would be unpaid, i know many colleges have these but with someone with his stature would certainly be on salary.

He had his second DUI--

he never finished his degree so that is part of the reason why he was unpaid.

Someone like Eric Akin would know the specific limitations of unpaid staff

Third

Eric was Volunteer Coach at Nebraska, and I think that is what Pat was at OSU....

Your pay comes from club money & fundraising w/ no benefits....and the luxury of "asking" for your check every month, for 4 years....

THE DAILY O'COLLEGIAN
Publication Date : May 2, 2006

OSU coach Smith resigns after arrest

From Wire Services

Four-time NCAA wrestling champion Pat Smith resigned Monday from his role as a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma State after reports of his arrest on a felony drunken driving charge.

Smith, 35, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Smith was pulled over early Friday morning by a Payne County deputy sheriff after the deputy saw Smith’s Toyota pickup truck leave a rural Stillwater road twice, according to an affidavit filed with the charge.

“There is great pain in having your brother leave your staff after 11 years,” Oklahoma State coach John Smith, Pat Smith’s older brother, said in a statement. “Pat has made a contribution to the legacy of this wrestling program. He regrets his personal decisions and is stepping down because he loves Oklahoma State University and the wrestling program.”

Pat Smith joined his brother’s coaching staff in 1994 after winning his fourth NCAA individual title early that year. He also won consecutive titles from 1990 to 1992. He is scheduled to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame next month.

In 2001, he was arrested on an aggravated DUI. He pleaded no contest in 2002 and received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and go through a counseling program.

Oklahoma State has won the last four NCAA wrestling titles.

Nat'l Wrestling Hall of Fame to induct Smith, three others

From staff reports
The Oklahoman
Friday, June 2, 2006

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct its new class -- including four-time champion Pat Smith of Oklahoma State -- at ceremonies this weekend.

There will be a reception at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. today, following by the presentation of the Honoree's Plaques at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be a luncheon at the Stillwater Country Club at 12:30 p.m.

All four of the Distinguished Members being inducted have achieved incredible firsts during their careers in wrestling.

The distinguished members being inducted into the Hall of are Terry Brands, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Josiah Henson, Tulsa; Tricia Saunders, Phoenix; and Pat Smith, Stillwater.

Tom and Terry Brands became the first twin brothers to win World gold medals the same year when they captured World titles at the World Freestyle Championships in Toronto, Canada. Terry was inducted in 2001. The Brands brothers have become the first twin world champions to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Henson is the first U.S. wrestling referee to work at an Olympic Games when he officiated at the Olympics in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Saunders will be the first woman inducted and is a four-time World Champion wrestler and coach of the historic 2004 U.S. Olympic women's wrestling team.

Smith is the first four-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion. He won his historic fourth NCAA title at the 1994 NCAA championships in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In addition to the induction of the distinguished members, other awards will be given during the Honors Weekend.

Pat Day of Louisville, Ky., is a Kentucky Derby winner and one of the greatest riders in racing history. He is being inducted as an Outstanding American.

Larry Sciacchetano of Baton Rouge, La., has served on the FILA Bureau, the governing council of the international federation, and as USA Wrestling's president. He will receive the Order of Merit Award.

Randy Meyer of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., an All-American Wrestler in college, will receive the Medal of Courage. Meyer has been has been blind since age 2 and has become a success in school and in business and is now the mayor of Sheboygan Falls.

Sam Williams of Fall Creek, Pa., a top referee in international, high school and college wrestling for almost 40 years, will receive the Lifetime Achievement for Officials award. He was one of the founders of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association.

David Craig of Brandon, Fla., a four-time high school state champion, Junior National double champion and 3.58 GPA student will receive the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.

Pat Smith dealing with adversity

By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER - Last March at the Ford Center, John Smith jumped onto little brother's back. Oklahoma State wrestler Zack Esposito's pin in the NCAA Championships ignited a jubilee in the Cowboy corner; assistant coach Pat Smith gave John, his boss and brother, a gleeful ride. What goes around comes around. Sometimes you carry your family; sometimes your family carries you.

Saturday night in the Student Union Ballroom on a campus known for no family moreso than the Del City Smiths, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Pat Smith. Humbled but with head held high, Smith talked of the highs and lows of wrestling and life.

Barely a month after a DUI arrest that cost him his job, Smith was surrounded by family. His fiance', Chelsee Vantrease. His parents, Lee Roy Sr. and Madelene. Seven of his nine siblings. "You can't get that for Christmas," cracked little brother Mark.

Pat Smith's future is uncertain. His fate, not so much.

Will he coach again at OSU, a school for which he won four NCAA titles and has assisted John for 11 years? Pat doesn't know. Doesn't even know if he will stay in wrestling.

But he knows he wants to take down alcohol the way he took down foes with a low single-leg, his favorite move. Pat says he's begun treatment for the demon that has led to three arrests in the last 10 years.

"Right now, I'm going through a tough time," Smith told the packed ballroom. "Five weeks ago, I got in some trouble. I take full responsibility.

"I'd like to apologize to my family and my friends and Oklahoma State University. My brother, Lee Roy, told me if I didn't come to this, it'd be all right. I made a foolish mistake, but I'm man enough to stand up for what I did.

"I believe what happened to me made a better person. I am committed to change."

Said Lee Roy Jr., the eldest of the Smith brother, executive director of the hall of fame and the instigator of the wrestling dynasty: "I couldn't be more proud of how he's assumed responsibility for his actions and the initiative he's taken to see that it doesn't happen again. We love him, we support him. He's very deserving of this honor."

Said the Smiths' mother, my personal family favorite, "He's handled it like a wrestler. A person used to intensity and discipline. Pat will do well with this, because he know discipline just through his sport.

"We're very proud of Pat. He's accomplished a lot the last 30 days. I know good things are ahead for him."

• • • Pat Smith is glad this is the year he went into the Hall of Fame.

He could have been inducted in 2005, or several years before that. Two wrestlers in history have won four NCAA titles. Pat Smith and Cael Sanderson.

He was voted in last November; his induction was set for June 3. Thirty-six days after his arrest for driving under the influence.

Pat Smith sat at a corner table in a Union lounge Saturday night and said this timing was best.

"I believe it's definitely good for me," Pat said. "Forces you not to stay in hiding. Forces you to hold your head up high. Realize it's something that happened, but it's not who you are.

"I'm a good person. It's definitely a testing point for me. I'm going to take it all with my head up."

Maybe this wasn't happenstance. Maybe this was God's way of offering a little solace; God's way of giving Pat Smith a back to jump upon.

"We believe in that divine intervention stuff," Lee Roy Jr. said with a grin, a faith seared into the brood at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Del City.

"He's dealing with adversity, as he did in his wrestling career. He's having to dig pretty deep right now and be the champion in life that he was on the mat."

• • • This was a night for family. The Hall of Fame inducted four new members. One was Tricia Saunders, a four-time women's world champion. The other three joined older brothers already in the Hall.

Josiah Henson, honored as a wrestler (1952 Olympic bronze medalist), referee and contributor, joined his brother, Stanley, inducted in 1978.

Terry Brands, a two-time NCAA champ at Iowa and two-time world champion, joined his twin brother, Tom, inducted in 2001.

Pat Smith, who at OSU went 121-5-2 from 1991-94 and won 98 straight matches, third-most in NCAA history, joined that guy that jumped on his back in March. John was inducted in 1997.

The Smiths were into making every little brother the best he could be.

"It's definitely a family thing," Pat said. "When my brothers started wrestling, you tend to follow."

The Smiths' accomplishments are ridiculously high. Lee Roy Jr. won two state titles at Del City and one NCAA championship. John won two state titles, two NCAAs and six world titles. Pat won three states and the four NCAAs. Mark won three states.

"It was never a negative," Pat said. "I never felt pressure. I was their No. 1 fan.

"Obviously, you're going to be compared to your brothers, but we never compared our achievements to each other. We're very strong and committed to each other."

That goes for the last month.

"They're very supportive," Pat said. "I have a fiance' who has stuck beside me during this whole ordeal, as well as my family. You never really know how strong a family is until a member goes through something painful, and I'm going through something painful. I know I'll get through this. I'm excited for the future."

• • • What Pat Smith's future holds is unknown. It might not include OSU, whose mats have been his home for 15 years. It might not include wrestling.

"I have no idea," Pat said. "About a week after my DUI, I put myself in position to handle my problem. That's my main focus. What lies ahead is not the most important thing to me right now.

"I'm going to weigh my options, basically take it one day at a time."

Said Lee Roy Jr., "I think it's good to take his time and consider his options. He's got a family that loves him and supports him, no matter what he does."

Pat Smith screwed up. Driving drunk is serious business. So is getting sober. And taking responsibility. Walking away from something you love; a sport and a school and a brother who jumps on your back at the thought of a fourth straight NCAA team championship.

"If this is the last time I coach at Oklahoma State, and I don't know if it is or not, it's been great to be a part of," Pat Smith said. "Definitely a great way to go out."

Alcohol is a horrible drug that does terrible things to good people. My hope is that Coach Smith gets his life straightened out and gets the help he needs. Until then, hopefully those without sin are casting the stones. As for me, I'll sit back and be praying for the man.