Donnie Bauer has coached wrestling for over 30 years in the Wheeling area. Having no boys of his own, he dedicated himself to teaching the mat sport to his kids whose parents placed in his charge. During his coaching tenure, Donnie developed wrestlers who later won a total of 25 West Virginia State Championships. In reference to the gigantic Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Tournament, he mentored 15 matmen who finished their high school careers with a total of 18 OVAC titles. Since 1973, Donnie developed 100s of wrestlers at the youth, middle school and high school levels. He mentored mat teams at the Wheeling area YMCA for 15 years. Also he coached the "Mozart Hawks" and the "Woodsdale Takedown Kids" for the Greater Wheeling Area Smallfry Wrestling League for 10 years. Bauer served as head coach at Triadelphia Middle School and Wheeling Central Catholic High School over a five year stint. Donnie initiated the mat careers of four wrestlers who won both West Virginia State Championships and Ron.Mauck OVAC Wrestling Tournament titles. They Include John Marshall's Dustin Ritchie as well as Dirk Bauer, Ronnie Green, Ronnell Green, and Kyle Bauer of Wheeling Park, Zach Basich of Wheeling Central Catholic and Rich Brothers of Bridgeport (Ohio).