Originally from Cleveland, Ohio Dave graduated in 1972 from Normandy High School in Parma where he was Lake Erie League Conference 1st team in both football and wrestling. He graduated from Cleveland State University in 1976 and moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 1981.  Dave’s coaching career spanned 30 years starting as a volunteer Assistant Coach at North Fort Myers High school from1991-1995, then serving as Assistant Coach at Mariner High School in Cape Coral, Florida from 1995-2000 and as Head Coach at Mariner from 2000-2021, where he announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 season.

During his 30 years of coaching Dave led his teams to 423 dual meet victories, 22 tournament championships, coached 71 state qualifiers, 33 state placers, and 8 state champions. Additionally, at Mariner High School Dave coached the team to 3 Lee County Athletic Conference (LCAC) championships, 4 District championships, 1 Regional championship, and 8 top10 finishes at the State tournament.  Dave was honored 2 times as the News Press Coach of the Year, 3 times as LCAC Coach of the Year, and is a member of the Lee County Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

Not limiting his dedication to only the high school season Dave, along with his long-time volunteer Assistant Coach, Mike Pedersen, organized the AAU Mariner Wrestling Club in 2000 coaching hundreds of wrestlers and competing throughout the state in the off season. 

Wrestling has always been a family affair for the Phillips’!  Over the span of the years, Dave was privileged to coach all three of his sons, Jason, Erik, and Max through their high school wrestling careers and to have his daughter, Katie, by his side as statistician for four years. He considers this an honor and one of his greatest fortunes!

Coach Phillips will never be far from the mat, but looks forward to retirement and plans to spend time traveling with his wife Ellen exploring new places and visiting their four children, ten grandchildren, and great-grandchild!