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Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College wrestling coach Joe Renfro was named to the Wrestling Coaches Association Class of 2024 Hall of Fame by the National Junior College Athletics Association. The NJCAA will honor Renfro on March 2 at the National Wrestling Tournament.
Renfro, who currently serves as NEO athletic director and wrestling head coach, has coached 135 All-Americans, with 39 wrestlers in the national finals and 22 individual national champions.
The NJCAA wrote, “[Renfro] has been voted the NJCAA National Coach of the Year seven times and NJCAA District Coach of the Year 12 times. He also actively serves the NJCAA Wrestling Coaches Association as President.”
Renfro is the only coach to win a back-to-back NJCAA Wrestling National Championship at two different colleges. He set the record in 2013 when he was the winning coach for Labette Community College before coming to NEO to win the 2014 Wrestling National Championship, leading the Norsemen to their first NJCAA Wrestling Championship.
“Joe Renfro’s impact on the wrestling community is nothing short of remarkable,” said NEO A&M College President Dr. Kyle J. Stafford. “What is most impressive is his transformative impact on student-athletes, turning them into NJCAA All-Americans and several ascending to national champions, nurturing their talents and instilling in them the values of discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship.”
With an overall record of 236-46-4, Renfro has led the Norsemen to win 17 NJCAA District Championships, 14 top-three finishes in the national tournament, and six NJCAA Wrestling Championship team national titles.
The NJCAA continued, “With a coaching career that spans 21 years, Renfro has never had a team finish below seventh at the national tournament.”
At NEO, Renfro and his team serve the campus and community through their involvement in campus activities and community service. From working at athletic events, moving housing furniture on campus, and assisting the elderly community, Renfro and his wrestling team are known on campus and in the community as leaders in service.
NEO will recognize Renfro’s Hall of Fame induction on March 7 between the women’s and men’s team games as NEO Basketball takes on Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa. The women’s team tips off at 5:30 p.m., and the men’s team at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, please contact the NEO coordinator of athletic communication and compliance, Shelby Saul, at shelby.saul@neo.edu or 918-540-6327.
Two Coaches Honored in NJCAA Wrestling Coaches Association HOF:
https://www.njcaa.org/sports/wrest/2023-24/releases/20240221hk2rf4
