Mizzou wrestling head coach Brian Smith announced Wednesday that the 2026-27 season will be his final one leading the Tigers, bringing an end to a 29-year tenure that helped thrust the program into national contention.
Smith was hired on May 5, 1998, and will retire following this season, with current associate head coach Kendric Maple appointed as his successor. The announcement allows the Tigers to celebrate Smith’s legacy while pursuing another successful campaign under the coach who built Tiger Style’s
foundation.
“I’m grateful that I can leave this program in a position of strength,” Smith said in a press release. “We have outstanding coaches, an incredible staff and a talented young team.”
Smith’s retirement came on the heels of Mizzou’s season opener at the Missouri Duals on Monday. He made it clear that there are still aspirations of competing among the nation’s best to close this season. His final campaign carries additional significance as the Tigers look to send their longtime coach out with another memorable postseason run.
In 28 seasons, Smith has accumulated a 354-130-3 record, leading Mizzou to 12 consecutive conference team championships from 2012-23. His teams have also earned two NCAA team trophies, including a third-place finish in 2007 and a fourth-place finish in 2015.
Smith’s has helped produce 72 All-Americans, 66 conference champions and 10 individual NCAA champions at Mizzou. Several of his former wrestlers have also found success internationally, including Olympic medalist J’den Cox and two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole, who he brought onto the coaching staff beginning in the 2025-26 season.
While the announcement signals the beginning of a coaching transition, the Tigers will have some continuity moving forward with Maple.
Maple is entering his eighth season at Mizzou and fifth as associate head coach. He has helped develop seven All-Americans during his time in Columbia. Before joining Smith’s staff in 2019, Maple coached at Nebraska and Purdue after a successful wrestling career at Oklahoma, where he won the 2013 NCAA championship at 141 pounds.
For now, Maple and Smith share the same priority: making the most of the season ahead.
“Our focus remains on making this season a special one for Coach Smith and our team,” Maple said.
With Smith’s final season now officially underway, each dual and postseason opportunity carries added meaning. The Tigers will look to add another chapter to his legacy before turning the page to a new era under Maple.
