The WellSport Podcast Mizzou Tigers Head Wrestling Coach: Brian Smith
Aug 18, 2025
Brian Smith, the head coach of Mizzou wrestling and author of Tiger Style, shares his insights on building a winning culture. He discusses the core values of 'Tiger Style' and how he sets a vision from day one, recruiting key leaders like Ben Askren. Smith emphasizes mental toughness through initiatives like Mental Mondays and Tough Talk Thursdays. He also details the importance of variety in training to prevent burnout, reflecting on athletes' journeys, such as Mark Ellis, to highlight the impact beyond just winning.
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Written Values Guide Behavior
- Tiger Style is a written culture with pillars like believe, compete, one more, and expect to win that guide behavior.
- Writing values and stories reduces decision fatigue and enforces consistent standards.
From Outsider To Program Builder
- Smith inherited a team he hadn't recruited and faced skepticism from local supporters and media.
- He persisted with vision and standards, then recruited future stars like Ben Askren who transformed the program.
Make Mental Training A Weekly Routine
- Run weekly mental sessions (Mental Monday, Tough Talk Thursday, Grateful Friday) with themes, small groups, and leader reports.
- Use these routines to surface issues, teach skills, and reinforce purpose every week.