Dr. Dahlem started and finished his coaching career at Loara High School from 1969 to 1984.

During his coaching years, his team won 233 matches, while losing only 36. His teams won 10 league championships and had a league record of 53-1, including four undefeated seasons.

Loara High School was California Interscholastic Federation Champion in 1983 and runner-up in 1979 and 1984.

Coach Dahlem was named league Coach of the Year 10 times and was Orange County Coach of the Year four times. He was named Big A Coach of the Decade for the 1970s and was the first inductee into the Orange County Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He served as the principal at Loara High School.

Following his retirement from coaching, the decorated Vietnam Veteran began mountain climbing, skydiving, and marathon running. He became the oldest American to complete the Explorers Grade Slam, climbing the highest peak on every continent, and also pulled a sled to the North and South Poles.

A member of the California Hall of Fame, Dahlem is past president of the California Interscholastic Federation and also past president of the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section. He remains active in the CIF-SS as the voluntary historian and by running the Masters Wrestling Tournament.

For his dedication and lasting influence on wrestling, Dr. John Dahlem is presented the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award class of 2000.