R. Wayne Baughman

Baughman died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on February 16, 2022, at the age of 81.

Baughman's first Air Force assignment was to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. He then spent five years as an instructor and coach at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, five years as Chief of Air Force Programs (Athletic Director of the entire Air Force) at HQ USAF, then nine years as an instructor and head wrestling coach at the United States Air Force Academy. After retiring from USAF active duty, he served as Director of Operations and Assistant General Manager for the 1986 World Cycling Championships, wrote the book Wrestling On and Off the Mat (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN 978-0961844608) and did speaking engagements and Clinics. Baughman returned to the head wrestling coach position as a civilian. He served as an Athletes Representative on many wrestling committees.

Baughman was on three Olympic teams (1964, 1968, and 1972) and eight World Championship teams. He was head coach of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team. He also coached five world Championship teams including both FS and GR. His record in 25 National Championships is 16 first-place finishes, 7 seconds, and 2 third-place finishes.

Baughman elected to go with coaches Port Robertson and Tommy Evans at OU. The four years he was at OU, the team won the NCAA Team Championship twice and took second behind OSU the other two years. As an individual, Baughman won the NCAA Championship once and finished 2nd twice. He also won the Big 8 Championship twice, was 2nd once and received both the Most Falls Trophy and Outstanding Wrestler Award his senior season (1963).

He was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended John Marshall Jr-Sr High School (1953–59) and the University of Oklahoma (1959–1963). He earned letters in football and wrestling in high school. Baughman concluded his 27th and final year as the United States Air Force Academy’s Head Wrestling Coach, as well as his 50-year involvement as a competitor, coach and administrator in Wrestling in 2007. From 1963 through 1972, he made three Olympic teams, eight World teams (including a freestyle/Greco-Roman double in 1965), and won 16 national titles (he never placed lower than third at a national event). He is also the only person who has won national championships in the four recognized wrestling styles (collegiate, freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Sambo), and one of only two wrestlers to have placed in the Olympics and/or World Championships in the three international styles (FS, GR, & Sombo).

Wayne Baughman (January 4, 1941 – February 16, 2022) was an American wrestler, coach and ultra-endurance athlete. He competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics, the 1968 Summer Olympics, and the 1972 Summer Olympics.