Hall of Fame wrestling coach Brad Smith retires after 45 seasons at Lisbon, Iowa City High

LISBON — Brad Smith is the most accomplished Iowa high school wrestling coach of all time.

This is fact and the numbers are unmatched.

The Hall of Famer is the only coach in state history to surpass 700 career dual wins, tallying 704 over 45 seasons. His 19 total state team titles, including 12 traditional tournament team crowns, are state records. Smith guided 306 state qualifiers to 179 medals and 64 individual championships during his tenures at Lisbon and Iowa City High.

More than titles and trophies, he wants to be known for his dedication to the competitors who trusted in his ways.

“I just want to be remembered for the good rapport with my wrestlers and my athletes,” said Smith, who was a 1976 NCAA champion for University of Iowa legendary coach Dan Gable. “Wrestling was important to my family and my life. I just want people to look back and say I worked hard. I was always trying to become a better coach every year.”

Smith announced Monday night at Lisbon’s season-ending awards banquet that he is stepping down as Lisbon’s head coach for the second time, bringing an end to a monumental coaching career that began with the 1978-79 season.

Smith, 69, coached the Lions from 1979 to 1991 before taking over at City High from 1992-2012. He returned to resurrect the Lisbon program in 2013.

Smith praised his wife, Connie, for many years of support and help with the programs, including making hotel arrangements for state. Smith enjoyed being able to coach his sons, Jacob, Cody and Colton, at City High. He will be able to do more family activities, spending more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

“I never really had a Christmas break for 45 years,” Smith said. “We couldn’t go anywhere. We had to stay in town. I needed to be around my program. The same with Thanksgiving. You do family stuff but sometimes we practiced on Thanksgiving Day.

“Now, it’s time to give back to my wife and family because they had my back all these years. That’s real important.”

Under Smith, Lisbon won Class 1A traditional tournament championships in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990, 2017 and 2020. The Lions claimed dual titles in 1987, 1988, 1991, 2017 and 2020.

City High won a traditional team title in Smith’s first season at the helm in 1992. It added traditional and dual state sweeps in 1999 and 2002.

Smith was the 1990 National Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991, Lisbon’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002, the Glen Brand Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2011.

“It’s been a great ride,” Smith said. “I’ve been around a lot of great wrestlers and really good coaches during my time. It’s not just me. It’s been the people I’ve been surrounded by that has brought success.

“It’s been a lot of fun. I know I’ve influenced people in a positive way.”

One of the remarkable feats includes coaching five of Iowa’s 32 four-time state champions. He coached Lisbon’s Shane Light (1987-90) and Carter and Cael Happel (2013-16 and 2017-2020) to four crowns. Smith helped Scott Morningstar to his final two titles in 1979 and 1980 in his first two seasons leading Lisbon. He did the same for Jeff McGinness at City High in 1992 and 1993.

“It doesn’t really matter what they do as long as they turn out to be good people,” Smith said. “That’s the most rewarding thing I can think of besides the state championships. All that winning stuff is important but I’ve been around so many good people and that’s something you never forget.”

Lisbon’s Royce Alger (1981-82), Dean Happel (1982-84), Robert Avila Jr. (2019-21) and Brandon Paez (2020, 2022-23) and City High’s Kyle Anson (2002, 2004-05) won three titles under Smith. He also coach Lisbon’s Ike Light (1990-91) and City High’s Johnny Galloway Jr. (2001-02) to two of their three titles.

“I always talked to those guys coming back for their next year after a state title to make sure they were preparing the same way the year they won it,” Smith said. “They have a certain attitude to where they know how to train smart, train right and do the right things on and off the mat. That made those individuals special people because they have the mindset others don’t have.

“As a coach, I helped that mindset and taught them some things that they could keep their streak going and have successful careers.”

Shane Light was coached by Smith for 13 years, starting when he was in kindergarten through his last title in 1990. He was inspired to become a coach by Smith.

“His presence on the mat will definitely be missed in Lisbon and in Iowa high school wrestling,” Shane Light said. “He not only taught us the sport but even more lessons off the mat. The biggest lesson I feel I have learned from coach was to be confident and humble. It’s so hard to even attempt to realize how many athletes he has affected in such a positive way throughout his career.

“I wish him the best for him and his wife, Connie.”

Lisbon Activities Director Brandon Horman will begin the search for a new head coach immediately.

“An amazing career in which he now deserves the time to enjoy every moment of his new journey in life,” Horman told The Gazette. “We will definitely miss him at Lisbon and the impact that he has had on hundreds of kids and the community.”