Coach David graduated from Appalachian State University located in Boone, North Carolina in 1982.  He comes from a wrestling family.  His father, Jack, was a top national and international official and his mother, Phyllis, a national and international Pairing Master.

After serving as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University where the team achieved the Southern Conference Championship in 1985, he moved to Florida and began his coaching career at Land O Lakes High School from 1986-88 with a record of 35-8-1.  He returned to Palmetto HS in 1989 where his record is 268-65-2.  In 1996 Palmetto HS won the FHSAA State Championship.  In 1997 and 1998, Palmetto was the State Runner-up, Regional Champs in '91, '92, '96 and '97 and District Champs in '91, '92, '93, '95 and '96.  Dave has coached 11 individual state champions, 47 place winners and two of his wrestlers went on the gain NCAA All American honors, Rohan Gardner at Northwestern University and brother Orville Gardner at Ohio University who also was the NCAA Division I Champion in 1997.

His awards include Gulf Coast Coach of the Year 1987, '88, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year Region 3 1997.