Paul Mayfield was named the inaugural head men’s and women’s wrestling coach at Murray State College in the spring of 2025. Bringing nearly two decades of coaching experience, Mayfield has established himself as one of Oklahoma’s most accomplished wrestling coaches, building championship programs and developing athletes from the youth, high school, national, and collegiate levels.
In just his first season at Murray State College, Mayfield guided the women’s program to an impressive fifth-place finish at the 2026 NJCAA National Championships, producing seven NJCAA All-Americans, including three national runner-up finishers. The men’s program qualified three wrestlers for the national tournament while both programs combined for a 13-10 dual record, establishing Murray State as one of the nation’s fastest-rising wrestling programs.
Before arriving at Murray State, Mayfield spent three seasons as the head girls wrestling coach at Bixby High School, where he transformed the Lady Spartans into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, Bixby captured the 2024 OSSAA Girls State Championship, finished state runner-up in 2023 and 2025, won two regional championships, and finished the 2025 season ranked No. 2 nationally after earning a No. 8 national ranking in 2024.
Prior to Bixby, Mayfield founded the girls wrestling program at Stilwell High School where he coached both Men’s and Women’s teams. Starting the program from the ground up, he built one of the state’s premier girl’s wrestling programs, growing the roster to more than 40 athletes while helping pioneer the growth of girls wrestling in Oklahoma.
Across 18 years as a head coach, Mayfield has compiled a 94-45 career dual record (.676 winning percentage), including an 81-35 mark at the high school level. His teams have earned six OSSAA Top-10 state finishes, three Top-5 finishes, a Junior High State Championship, multiple regional championships, and consistent national recognition.
Throughout his coaching career, Mayfield has developed elite wrestlers at every level. His athletes have combined to earn:
- 14 OSSAA State Championships.
- Three four-time OSSAA State Champions
- One three-time OSSAA State Champion
- Multiple OSSAA state finalists, placers, and qualifiers
- 20 wrestlers who continued into collegiate wrestling, including five NCAA Division I wrestlers
- 17 NJCAA National Qualifiers
- Seven NJCAA All-Americans
- Two NCAA Division I All-Americans
- Six Oklahoma All-State wrestlers
On the national level, Mayfield has coached:
- One USA Wrestling Fargo National Champion
- Three Fargo All-Americans
- Three USA Wrestling Cadet/Junior National Dual All-American teams, finishing 4th, 6th, and 6th nationally
Several of Mayfield’s athletes have received wrestling’s highest individual honors, including the:
- 2016 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award
- 2020 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award
- 2025 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award
- 2026 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award
- 2025 Jim Thorpe High School Excellence Award
Beyond coaching his own teams, Mayfield has been a leader within the wrestling community. He served as President of the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association (OWCA)(Women) and remains an active member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). From 2020-2024, he served as a USA Wrestling Oklahoma National Team Coach, helping coach Team Oklahoma at national competitions, including three Cadet/Junior National Dual All-American teams.
His accomplishments have earned numerous coaching honors, including:
- 2025 COWOA Coach of the Year
- 2025 UCO Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2024 Tulsa World Wrestling Coach of the Year
- 2024 Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year
- 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association Oklahoma Coach of the Year
- 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year
- 2023 Junior High All-State Coach of the Year
- 2021 District Teacher of the Year
As a competitor, Mayfield enjoyed an extremely successful wrestling career in Oklahoma. A graduate of Ardmore High School, he was a three-time OSSAA State Qualifier, two-time State Placer, 2002 Oklahoma All-State selection, and capped his senior season by winning the 2002 OSSAA State
Championship with a perfect 43-0 record.
Mayfield continued his collegiate career at Neosho County Community College, where he earned NJCAA All-American honors while winning the 2006 NJCAA National Championship. He later transferred to the University of Central Oklahoma, where he was a member of the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship team.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma before completing a Master of Coaching Education and Sports Sciences from Ohio University.
Known for emphasizing culture, accountability, relentless work ethic, and athlete development, Mayfield has built winning programs everywhere he has coached. His philosophy centers on developing championship wrestlers while preparing student-athletes for success beyond the mat, and he continues to establish Murray State College as one of the premier wrestling destinations in the NJCAA.
Paul and his wife, Melissa, have two children, Violet and Jiggs.
