Doug Axman has had a long and distinguished wrestling career that continues to enhance opportunities for the next generation of grapplers. Doug’s selfless perseverance on behalf of the wrestling community exemplifies those attributes to be found in a genuine Hall of Famer.

Doug developed his skills as a wrestler at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station Long Island before moving to on to Farmingdale Junior College. The head wrestling coach at Farmingdale, legendary Hall of Famer, Bob Hartman, Imparted his love for the sport to all his wrestlers. Doug learned well from perhaps the best junior college coach in the country and then enhanced those skills under Coach Don Murray at Brockport University.

Doug Began his coaching career in 1973 as the assistant wrestling coach at Plainview High School. The following year, Doug moved on to Locust Valley High School where his teams excelled on the mat during his 33-year tenure. As an assistant coach for 14 years and then head coach for another 19, Doug put his heart and soul into the Falcon Wrestling Program. The results were immediate as the wrestlers began to achieve unparalleled success for the program. Over his career at Locust Valley, Doug produced championships teams and over 100 individual champions. After retirement, Doug joined the wrestling program at Oyster Bay High School where he continues to apply his coaching skills as his Oyster Bay Baymen wrestlers pile up championships.

The Nassau County Wrestling Coaches association (NCWCA) has named Doug Conference coach of the year several times and he was also named the Deputy Ray Downey Assistant Coach of the Year. Doug has been past president of the NCWCA and has been chairman of the scholarship and Ad Hoc Committees. In addition, he continues to run the prestigious annual Nassau County Wrestling Awards Dinner.

Wrestling Enthusiasts could not find a more dedicated individual who has given his time to help the youth of our community. Doug founded the first Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Chapter in Nassau County in 1976 in an effort to encourage students to make positive choices. He has helped young wrestlers strengthen their skills and character as the director of the All American Wrestling Camp and as the Associate director of the Competitive Edge Wrestling Camp.

Douglas N. Axman has worked his entire professional career to provide opportunities for wrestlers to succeed on, and off, the mat. For his selfless dedication to so many crucial aspects of our sport, we are pleased to welcome Doug into the Nation Wrestling Hall of Fame.