Jim Giunta graduated from Burrell High School in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania in 1971.

He wrestled for Penn State New Kensington before transferring to Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in exercise physiology and cardiac rehabilitation.

Following graduation, he began teaching and coaching high school wrestling in Richardson, Texas.

In an effort to promote and grow wrestling, Jim founded and developed the high school wrestling governing body and administrative structure for the State of Texas as the Texas Interscholastic Wrestling Association in 1987. Served as the executive director until 1998 and continues to consult with the University Interscholastic League on improving and expanding wrestling in the State of Texas.

Jim formed the National Collegiate Wrestling Association in 1997 and continues to serve as the organization’s executive director.

The NCWA began competing in 1998 with 18 teams and 116 athletes. Today, the NCWA has over 150 teams, 2,500 current athletes, and over 35,000 alumni across America and Canada.

The NCWA established the first collegiate women’s wrestling division in 2007 and held the first women’s collegiate national championship in 2008.