TOM COIL
Wrestling, 1971-73
Inducted February 18, 1989
 
St. Louis native Tom Coil came to SMSU in 1971 after the stint in the Marine Corps and wrestled for the Bears his final two collegiate seasons.  Coil posted a 23-2 record in 1971-72 and captured the MIAA title at 177 pounds for Coach Mike McCarty.  He was named the MIAA’s outstanding wrestler that season.  Coil came back the following year with a 24-4 mark and again claimed the league title at 177 pounds.  He recorded nine pins in 1972-73 to set a single season record in that department and was selected an SMSU co-captain and the Bears’ Most Valuable Wrestler each of his two years at SMSU.  The two years Coil was at SMSU represent the second and third best single-season winning percentages in SMSU wrestling history and Coil’s .870 career percentage on a 47-7 record is easily the school’s all-time winning percentage record.  Coil led the Bears to two straight third place finishes in the MIAA championship and the 11 dual meet wins recorded by the ’72 Bears equals the record for wins in a season.