Leading Oklahoma City University’s charge for national prominence in men’s and women’s wrestling is Archie Randall, who has been mentioned among the nation’s elite as a coach.
Randall reached his 400th career dual victory in the OCU men’s win against Newman (Kan.) on Feb. 6, 2013. His record through 22 years of coaching men and women and high school and college is 418-98-3. He has a 196-80-3 combined men’s and women’s record at OCU. Randall has produced 27 national champions and 134 all-Americans.
In 2014-15, Oklahoma City’s men went 8-5 for its first winning dual season in four seasons. The Stars had five all-Americans and a national champion while taking fifth in the NAIA Championships. OCU’s women finished 19-3 with nine all-Americans, two national champions and a third-place showing in the Women’s College Wrestling Association Championships.
In 2013-14, Oklahoma City reeled in a runner-up finish in the Women’s College Wrestling Association Championships as well as a third-place showing in the NWCA National Duals. On the women’s side, 14 Stars took all-American honors, while OCU had seven national-tournament qualifiers. Zach Skates finished sixth at 157 pounds and became a two-time all-American. OCU’s men finished third in the NAIA Central Qualifying Group Tournament.
Randall guided OCU to runner-up finishes in the WCWA Championships and the women’s NWCA National Duals in 2012-13. The OCU women ran their streaks to 75 consecutive wins and a 90-0-1 record in 91 contests. The Stars had 15 women’s all-Americans and three men’s all-Americans. On the men’s side, the Stars took 13th in the NAIA Championships and third in the Central Qualifying Group Tournament.
In 2011-12, OCU boasted of its fourth WCWA national championship in a row and fifth consecutive NWCA National Duals crown as well as its finest finish in the men’s program history. The Stars placed fifth in the NAIA Championships, had four all-Americans while going 10-5. Kevin Hardy won the men’s program’s first individual national title. In women’s duals, OCU had a 22-0 record. OCU had 15 women’s all-Americans and six national champions.
Randall led OCU’s women to their third consecutive WCWA national championship and fourth NWCA National Duals title in a row. The Stars went 18-0 in women’s duals. OCU’s men went 10-7 and advanced nine individuals to the NAIA Championships.
In 2009-10, OCU’s women picked up its second WCWA national title and third NWCA National Duals crown in a row. OCU’s men featured two-time all-Americans Corey Johnson and Nik Turner. The Stars went a combined 27-10-1 in duals, including 23-0-1 on the women’s side.
In 2008-09, the Stars captured the WCWA national championship and the NWCA women’s national title, the latter for the second year in a row. OCU’s men finished 15th in the NAIA Championships. The Stars went 22-1 in women’s duals and 7-13 in men’s duals.
In 2007-08, Randall directed OCU’s men to a 10th-place finish at the NAIA Championships. OCU had four all-Americans, John Wilcox won the Lindenwood Open and Mitchell Eichenauer became a national finalist. OCU went 18-7-1 in duals.
Also in ’07-08, OCU became an instant women’s contender. In its first year, OCU finished as national runner-up and won the NWCA National Duals. Three individuals became national champions, and 14 Stars were all-American. OCU was 13-3-1 in duals.
In 2006-07, Randall guided OCU to a 12th-place finish at the NAIA Championships despite being a first-year program. Three Stars became all-Americans, and two won open tournament titles. OCU broke into the national rankings and posted a 6-11 record in duals.
After turning El Reno High School into a perennial state champion, Randall was named to revive the wrestling program at OCU on Jan. 27, 2006. Randall holds the title as Oklahoma’s winningest high-school coach. He guided El Reno to 11 consecutive team tournament championships and 10th dual state championships in a row. Randall, who has coached wrestling for 28 years, went 232-16 in duals in 13 years at El Reno.
Randall coached 44 wrestlers who went on to the college ranks. Randall has coached 54 state champions, 57 state tournament placers, 22 all-staters and a four-time state champion.
Randall’s teams have won 65 tournament championships, 11 regional crowns, 12 Suburban Conference championships and 13 district titles. In the classroom, El Reno was academic state champion in 1998 and 1999. Nationally, El Reno had been in the top 25 high-school rankings for eight consecutive years.
Randall is seven-time Oklahoma Coaches Association coach of the year and three-time Oklahoman all-city coach of the year. Other coach of the year awards Randall has earned: 2003 National Coaches Association regional coach of the year, 2002 National Federation of Coaches sectional coach of the year, 2002 U.S. Olympic Committee development coach of the year, 2002 USA Wrestling development coach of the year and 1999 Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team coach and coach of the year.
On the national level, Randall is a member of the USA Wrestling board of directors. Randall has won nine junior national dual team tournament championships. In 1987, USAOK’s cadet program set a state record with 20 all-American wrestlers in one season under Randall’s guidance.
Randall earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education from Texas-El Paso in 1977 and a master’s degree in administration from Central Oklahoma in 2004.
Randall has three children, Zach, Preston and Heather.
YEAR-BY-YEAR DUAL RECORDS
MEN
2006-07: 6-11
2007-08: 18-7-1
2008-09: 7-13
2009-10: 4-10
2010-11: 10-7
2011-12: 10-5
2012-13: 7-9
2013-14: 8-9
2014-15: 8-5
Totals: 78-76-1 (.506)
WOMEN
2007-08: 13-3-1
2008-09: 22-1
2009-10: 23-0-1
2010-11: 18-0
2011-12: 22-0
2012-13: 18-3
2013-14: 10-2
2014-15: 19-3
Total: 145-12-2 (.918)
