Coach VanGilder's love of the mat sport was unprecedented. VanGilder started coaching in 1967 and was the head wrestling coach at Brooke High School (1989 - 1997), where he produced five state champions and three OVAC titlists. VanGilder directed numerous West Virginia AAA Regional championships and OVAC Freshman and JV tournament at the school. He has also been instrumental behind the scenes at the OVAC Wrestling Championships in his position as head scorekeeper for years. As the mechanical drawing instructor at Brooke, VanGilder also created the various name and pass tags, forms and bout sheets at the OVAC tournament. He also designed the wrestling wall of fame at the Brooke High School wrestling room. Coach VanGilder is not only a master of the mat sport but also a master teacher and coach in various sports. His expertise in athletics also involved coaching tennis for 25 years, and Nolan served as assistant golf coach for 15 years at Brooke High School He is not only totally dedicated to developing students into competitive athletes, but also boys and girls into young men and women who will be successful in the adult world. A retired teacher with 35 years of wrestling service, VanGilder always enjoyed education because of his love for the students he taught for over three decades. Nolan VanGilder and his wife Shirley are the parents of two sons; Donald Nolan and Doug. They also have four grandchildren.