Al Billings wrestled three years at Estherville High School and four years at Winona State University in Minnesota, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1972.

His professional journey started at Central Dewitt High School where he taught and coached football and wrestling for six seasons. He then spent one year at Dallas Center-Grimes High School before moving to Belle Plaine High School, where he was the head wrestling coach for 18 seasons before moving into administration at North Cedar High School.

Throughout his career he has been commended for the excellence he inspires in young people in the classroom or in athletics and the high standard of success he holds himself to.

Billings' teams won 213 dual meets and posted a 77.74 winning percentage. At Belle Plaine his teams produced a 147-67-4 record. Six times his teams finished in the Top 10 of the traditional state tournament.

He coached 122 state qualifiers and 57 state place-winners, including seven state champions.

Billings was a Class 1A State Coach of the Year while also being active in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association and serving on the Iowa High School Athletic Association wrestling advisory board.

An active clinician, he was the first Iowan to be honored as the USA Wrestling National Junior Person of the Year in 2000. He was inducted into the IHSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Billings coached the Iowa cadet team on their tour of Turkey in 1994 and was the team leader for the USA Junior World Team at the World Championships in China in 2007.

He is also a highly sought after official, who has worked the Olympic Trials and numerous national tournaments.

His "paying it forward impact" is seen in the 15 former athletes who went on to become coaches.

As a principal at North Cedar he was a volunteer coach and helped with the development of individuals like Matt Fields, a state champion, Junior Nationals champion and an NCAA All-American.

Even in retirement he continues to stay involved in the sport.

Living in South Carolina, he has been a volunteer coach at Seneca High School and highly established West Oak High School in Westminster, South Carolina.