James has prolific wrestling career

David James, a Choctaw tribal member, was a two-time NAIA national champion, three-time finalist and the University of Central Oklahoma’s first four-time All-American.

Since he first stepped on the mat as a freshman in 1976, David James has been synonymous with wrestling at the University of Central Oklahoma. James compiled an impressive 116-16 record with the Bronchos, good enough to still rank third in career winning percentages at the school with 88 percent and 11th on the career win list.

He coached his alma mater from 1982-2016, leading the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos to 12 national championships – second-most among all college coaches at any level – and racking up a 396-144-5 dual record during an amazing 34-year career.

UCO captured NAIA national titles in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989 and NCAA Division II crowns in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2007, while David was named National Coach of the Year seven times.

He coached 48 individual national champions and 182 All-Americans at UCO while guiding the Bronchos to 19 regional titles and 24 top-four national tournament finishes, including five runner-up showings.

David received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from our Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and is also a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame, the UCO Athletic Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Del City (Oklahoma) High School Hall of Fame.

To learn more about James’ career and others in the National, visit https://nwhof.org/.