(Oklahoma State Athletic Media Relations has contributed to this story.)
STILLWATER – He has been the head strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma State coming from Washington State. When Mike Gundy took over as head coach after Les Miles departed, he brought in Rob Glass. Instead of taking off, Gary Calcagno stayed and became a top assistant for Glass and continued doing the otustanding job that he has always done. Calcagno is old school, roll up your sleeves, and work hard. It is something he has learned from his parents, his family and it has served him and Oklahoma State well. Now, a master strength and conditioning coach he has been honored as the top assistant strength and conditioning coach in the country by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Calcagno is the winner of the 2023 Assistant College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award. At roughly the same time, his friend and mentor Rob Glass, the assistant athletic director for strength, speed, and conditioning at Oklahoma State has been featured in a USA TODAY article.
Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Rob Glass in the weight room at OSU.
Glass is the only one-million dollar a year strength coach in college football and college athletics. Head coach Mike Gundy calls him the most important person in the Cowboys football program and he was Gundy’s first outside hire when he became head coach. Gundy knew Glass from his time as a player when Glass trained Barry Sanders to a Heisman Trophy.
The thing I love about the story and I believe it is the Jacob Unruh contribution is the relationship with Special Olympian Madi Madory and Glass’ overall involvement and enthusiasm for Special Olympics. This is not just an outstanding strength coach, but Rob Glass is a good man. I encourage you to read this.
Meanwhile, Calcagno is so deserving of his recognition. He has assisted Glass and the strength staff in all duties with Oklahoma State football. He is also the head strength coach for Oklahoma State wrestling.
Calcagno assists Rob Glass, Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning, with football and is responsible for the strength and conditioning of the Cowboy wrestling program.
Gary Calcagno
From left to right, Pat Smith, Gary Calcagno, and OSU head coach John Smith.
Since taking over the strength program for coach John Smith, OSU's wrestling coach since 1992, the Cowboy wrestling team has won four NCAA team national championships, two NCAA runner-up finishes, 24 individual NCAA championships, 17 Big 12 team titles, 94 Big 12 individual titles, three NWCA National Duals Championships, two Dan Hodge Trophy winners, eight Big 12 Conference Outstanding Wrestler Awards, two Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Year Awards, one NWCA National Duals Outstanding Wrestler Award, one Wade Schalles Award winner and has had 105 All-America selections.
In addition, three freestyle wrestling team members for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, two freestyle wrestling team members for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and one freestyle wrestling team member for the 2012 Olympic Games in London were former Oklahoma State wrestlers. Of those Olympic wrestlers trained by Calcagno, Jamill Kelly won silver in 2004 and Coleman Scott won bronze in 2012. Most recently at the 2021 Senior World Championships, Daton Fix won the silver medal. In 2008, Calcagno was awarded the Bob Dellinger Distinguished Service Award from Oklahoma State wrestling.
