A graduate of Lincoln High School, Dave was a two time state qualifier for Hall of Fame Coach Floyd Bee, placing 3rd as a senior. During his senior summer he won the AAU Jr. National tournament and the USA Jr. National Tournament. Dave's collegiate career took place at Eastern Illinois University. While at Eastern, he was a four time NCAA All-American placing 3rd, 2nd, and 1st in NCAA Division II, and 2nd in NCAA Division I. In 1979 Dave was a member of the USA World Team and competed in the World Championships. In 1980 due to the Olympic boycott, Dave turning his sights to coaching. Dave's coaching career began in 1980 as an assistant at Eastern Illinois. In 1982, after two years as the EIU assistant, Dave headed to the University of Oklahoma as an assistant from 1982-84. In 1984 Dave returned to the state of Illinois where he was an assistant coach at the University of Illinois from 1984-87. In 1987 Dave returned to Eastern Illinois University as and assistant coach from 1987-89. During this time, Dave earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Administration. Dave's head coaching career began in 1989 when he became the Head Wrestling Coach and Physical Education instructor at MacMurray College. After two years at this position, in 1991, Dave became the Head Wrestling Coach and Physical Education instructor at Lincoln College. While coaching at Lincoln, Dave produced 174 Junior College National Qualifiers, 58 All-Americans, and 9 National Champions. His teams finished in the top six 8 times. Dave was voted NJCAA Region Coach of the Year 3 times, National Coach of the Year in 1997, and Man of the Year in 1999. Dave was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, The Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1996, The NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2003, The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Illinois Chapter in 2013, and received the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. From 1991 to 2008, Dave was a tenured faculty member at Lincoln College in Physical Education. In addition to his duties, Dave was named Physical Education Division Chair in 1999. In 2008 Dave left the classroom for an administrative position being named Director of Athletics, in addition to coaching wrestling. In 2011 Dave stepped down as head wrestling coach allowing more time to concentrate on administrative duties. Under his administrative direction the Lincoln College athletic teams produced 14 individual National Champions, 17 national placing teams and 2 national champion teams. In 2014, after the departure of the wrestling coach, Dave stepped back into the head coach position for two years. In 2016 Dave stepped away from wrestling for good and focused on the transition process of Lincoln College to a four year athletic program. In 2017 Dave chaired a committee that complied inform and submitted the application for acceptance to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Dave retired from Lincoln College in December of 2017. Dave and his wife Linda live in Warrensburg, IL with their two children, Sara and Evan.