Daniel William Moody was born on December 27, 1964, in Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1973, his family moved to Califon, a town in Hunterdon County, NJ. It was there that Dan first joined wrestling through an initiative program by the newly opened Voorhees High School and its coach, Robert Hall. He began wrestling for the Hunterdon Hills midget/grade school team, coached by John Lawton, a 2022 FL Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee. Dan excelled in wrestling, winning multiple state titles in folkstyle and freestyle.

In high school, Dan's wrestling career culminated in a milestone victory at the 122lb New Jersey State Championship Finals, where he hit his trademark fireman’s carry for what would be a difference-making takedown that secured a perfect 32-0 season and became the first wrestler in Voorhees history to amass 100 wins. He continued wrestling in college, first at Southern Connecticut State University under coach Don Knauf, a 2023 FL Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, and then at Slippery Rock University. Despite an injury-plagued career, Dan compiled a record of 81 wins and 29 losses, winning an NCAA East Regional title and qualifying for the 1988 Division 1 nationals held in Ames, Iowa.

Dan began his coaching career in 1989 after graduating from Slippery Rock University. His first coaching position was at Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, NJ, where he was a standout athlete in wrestling and baseball. Later, in 2006 he was inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame. In 1991, Dan moved to North Carolina, where he built a strong wrestling program at Currituck County High School. In just his second and final season, his team finished the 1993 season at 18-2, placing third in the state.

Dan then spent the next 30 years coaching in Florida, two years at Miramar HS, seven years at Western HS, 20 years at Royal Palm Beach HS, and currently at Seminole Ridge H.S. Overall, his teams combined for over 300 wins, seven district titles, two regional titles, 40 state qualifiers, and two individual state champions.

He teaches Physical Education at Royal Palm Beach High School and is the golf coach. He remains involved in wrestling at Seminole Ridge High School, coaching his son Ryan. Dan is married to Darla and has three children, Kaitlyn, Daniel, and Ryan, as well as two grandchildren, Brice and Riley.