Patrick Simpson (2021) - Hall of Fame - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Patrick Simpson

Induction:
2021

Simpson earned the honor of being the first ever Blue Raider wrestler elected to the Hall of Fame. A four-year starter from 1975-1979, Simpson was the first MT wrestler to qualify for the NCAA tournament, defeating a future two-time NCAA champion during Midwest Region qualifiers in 1979.

"I had a great coach in Gordon Connell," Simpson said. "I wouldn't be in (the Hall of Fame) without him."

Connell, fresh off a 50-year coaching career, joined the Zoom, saying Simpson was the first guy he called to recruit when the program transitioned to the NCAA level in 1974.

"I saw how he wrestled in the state finals, he didn't want to lose that match," Connell said. "He had that fighting spirit you had to have to succeed in wrestling."

Middle Tennessee no longer sponsors wrestling at the NCAA level, but the club team has multiple top 8 finishes at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association championships.

"We started almost practicing in a little-bitty closet," Simpson said of the humble beginnings of his career. "There weren't that many guys on the team. Gordon's strength was always teaching technique. And if you bought into that system, then you were going to get better as a wrestler."

Following his time at MT, Simpson has had an illustrious coaching career at the high school level, winning multiple state coach of the year awards for his mentorship of wrestlers at Father Ryan High School.