A 1971 graduate of Normal's University High School, Dave Gannaway wrestled for Hall of Fame coach George Girardi. He was a state qualifier his senior year at 145 pounds and competed at Illinois State University under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Robert Koehler. Upon graduation in 1975, Dave began teaching at Metamora Township High School as a building trades instructor, also taking on responsibilities as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach. He then served as the assistant wrestling coach at ISU from 1981 through 1984. During that time, he also moved back to his alma mater, U-High, as a P.E. and math teacher and assistant football coach. From 1984 through 1986, Dave was also the head wrestling coach at U-High. He assumed the duties of the school's Activities Director in 1986 and served in that capacity for eight years. In 1994, Dave became the Activities Director at Morton High School. He served as the Vice-President of the Redbird Wrestling Club from 1984 through 1990. In 1999, he was named Assistant Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association in charge of wrestling, football and the officials' department for all sports. While at U-High, Dave also directed ISU's wrestling camps. From 1990 through 1996, he managed the IHSA's Dual Team State Tournament at Redbird Arena and was the tournament manager for the NCAA West Regional held at ISU. Dave was named IWCOA Administrator of the Year in 1992 and the Illinois Athletic Directors Association's A.D. of the year in 1993. He served as President of the IADA from 1996-97. In 2006, Dave was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame and in 2008 was their "Man of the Year." A member of the National Federation of State High School Associations' Wrestling Rules Committee from 2003 to 2010, he served as its chairman from 2006 to 2010. He was inducted into the University High School Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also named the Illinois Outdoor News 2015 "Man of the Year." Dave has provided leadership to Illinois wrestling through his tireless efforts in many ways, including managing both the IHSA Individual and Dual Team Wrestling tournaments and developing the teaching curriculum for the IHSA wrestling officials' clinics and its adoption as the nationwide standard of excellence. The curriculum is used as a model for the IHSA's Official Education Website for all IHSA sports. He has also provided benefits to our sport nationwide by his involvement with the NFHS Wrestling Rules committee. Since retiring from the IHSA in 2010, Dave has served the collegiate wrestling arena. Since 2012, he has managed five events yearly for the National Wrestling Coaches Association: the College All- Star event, the Multi-level National Duals, the Div. 1 National Duals Tournament, the Coaches Leadership Academy and the National Wrestling Coaches Convention. Dave also served as Assistant Floor Manager for the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Div. I National Championships and Floor Manager for the 2015 and 2016 tournaments. Dave has been married to his wife, Nola, for 41 years. Their son Dan and wife Rachel are parents of daughters Quinn, Rowan and Sloan; their daughter Joy and husband Tim Gronewold have a daughter, Kate, and a son, Luke.