Dave Martin

Dave Martin has contributed to wrestling as a competitor, youth and collegiate coach, athletic administrator, and faithful supporter of the sport.

Martin joined a family of wrestling enthusiasts in a tradition-rich area of the state where grapplers were cultivated and launched. His father, Leon “Champ” Martin, was an NCAA runner-up in 1942 representing Iowa State Teachers College. As the Algona High School wrestling coach, Coach Martin led his son to two consecutive state titles—first at 145 pounds, then at 154 pounds.

As a collegiate wrestler at Iowa State University, Martin was a member of two national championship teams (1969, 1970), earning NCAA runner-up status in 1969 and capturing an individual national championship in 1970 at 158 pounds.

With wrestling still in his blood, he coached YMCA wrestling in the early 1970s and hosted wrestling camps in the Iowa Great Lakes area.

In 1975, Martin became an assistant wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University. During his first collegiate coaching stint, the team won the Big Eight Championship in 1975 and 1978. In national competition, the Cowboy team was the runner-up in 1977 and placed third in both 1975 and 1976. In 1992, Martin was called back into coaching as interim head coach for OSU. That team finished first in the Big Eight Championship and was the NCAA team runner-up.

Interspersed throughout his coaching years, Martin served as an ESPN wrestling color commentator, providing commentary for Oklahoma State meets and the Oklahoma state high school tournament. In 1989, he also provided radio commentary for the Olympic Wrestling Festival.

Later, as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Oklahoma State University, Martin championed the sport of wrestling on a national level. He served as chairman of the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee (2000–2002). Under his leadership, landmark legislation was enacted to protect the health of student-athletes with regard to weight issues. Martin also negotiated the important change from tape-delayed national television coverage of the NCAA tournament to live coverage.

Dave Martin was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, along with his brother Paul, Pete Bush, and Eric Voelker.

High School

Algona High School

CoachLeon "Champ" Martin

• 1965 145-pound State Champion
• 1966 154-pound State Champion
• 1965 State Team Runner-up
• 1966 State Team Title

College

Iowa State University

CoachDr. Harold Nichols

Record48-14

• 1969 158-pound NCAA Runner-up
• 1970 158-pound NCAA Champion
• 1968 Team NCAA National Runner-up
• 1969 Team NCAA National Title
• 1970 Team NCAA National Title
• Two-time NCAA All-American

Coaching

Oklahoma State University – Assistant Coach (1975-1978)

• 1975 NCAA Team 3rd Place Finish
• 1976 NCAA Team 3rd Place Finish
• 1977 NCAA Team National Runner-up
• 1975 Big Eight Team Title
• 1978 Big Eight Team Title
• 1977 NCAA Team National Runner-up

Oklahoma State University – Interim Head Coach (1992)

• 1992 Big Eight Team Title
• 1992 NCAA Team National Runner-up

Oklahoma State University – Senior Associate Athletic Director (1993-2006)

Big 12 Conference – Interim Commissioner (1998)