Oklahoma State University Athletics
Jim Rogers Named 2020 Gallagher Award Recipient
February 11, 2020 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Cowboy wrestling coach John Smith announced Tuesday that Jim Rogers will be the recipient of the 2020 Gallagher Award and will be honored Sunday at Oklahoma State's final home dual of the season.
The award, given annually to an OSU alumnus who has exemplified the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions, will be presented during the Cowboys' dual against Oklahoma.
"It's simply the greatest honor I've ever been paid," Rogers said. "I'm sure there are others more deserving, but I am thrilled."
Rogers was a three-time All-American for OSU with a fifth-place finish in 1964 and back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 1966 and 1967. He wrestled on two NCAA Championship teams under coach Myron Roderick and went 45-16 in his Cowboy career before moving on to a successful career in coaching.
"Jim Rogers' accomplishments have made a difference for many people," Smith said. "He brought back the University of Central Oklahoma wrestling program and developed it to a point before passing it off to the hands of Coach Griffin. From the time he restarted the program to the time he retired, they were prepared to win national championships. He built up a team and handed it off. He made the sport prominent in his area. That's what coach Gallagher did here at OSU, and that's what Jim Rogers did for Central Oklahoma."
Following his time at OSU, Rogers attended graduate school at the University of Utah and served as an assistant wrestling coach for two years. In his time with the program the team entered the top 10 for the first time in its history. In 1972 Rogers took over the head coaching post with the newly re-instated UCO program.
The team became a national contender soon thereafter with a fourth-place NAIA national tournament finish in its first year. The Bronchos were runners-up the following season and brought home five top-four national finishes in Rogers' six-year tenure. The former Cowboy coached 22 All-Americans, including four national champions. The year after his departure, OCU claimed its first national wrestling championship with a lineup consisting of most of his former athletes and recruits.
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
2015 - Jay Arneson
2016 - Hardell Moore
2017 - Stanley Henson
2018 – Nick Williams
2019 – Tadaaki Hatta
2020 – Jim Rogers
The award, given annually to an OSU alumnus who has exemplified the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions, will be presented during the Cowboys' dual against Oklahoma.
"It's simply the greatest honor I've ever been paid," Rogers said. "I'm sure there are others more deserving, but I am thrilled."
Rogers was a three-time All-American for OSU with a fifth-place finish in 1964 and back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 1966 and 1967. He wrestled on two NCAA Championship teams under coach Myron Roderick and went 45-16 in his Cowboy career before moving on to a successful career in coaching.
"Jim Rogers' accomplishments have made a difference for many people," Smith said. "He brought back the University of Central Oklahoma wrestling program and developed it to a point before passing it off to the hands of Coach Griffin. From the time he restarted the program to the time he retired, they were prepared to win national championships. He built up a team and handed it off. He made the sport prominent in his area. That's what coach Gallagher did here at OSU, and that's what Jim Rogers did for Central Oklahoma."
Following his time at OSU, Rogers attended graduate school at the University of Utah and served as an assistant wrestling coach for two years. In his time with the program the team entered the top 10 for the first time in its history. In 1972 Rogers took over the head coaching post with the newly re-instated UCO program.
The team became a national contender soon thereafter with a fourth-place NAIA national tournament finish in its first year. The Bronchos were runners-up the following season and brought home five top-four national finishes in Rogers' six-year tenure. The former Cowboy coached 22 All-Americans, including four national champions. The year after his departure, OCU claimed its first national wrestling championship with a lineup consisting of most of his former athletes and recruits.
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
2015 - Jay Arneson
2016 - Hardell Moore
2017 - Stanley Henson
2018 – Nick Williams
2019 – Tadaaki Hatta
2020 – Jim Rogers
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