David G. Ironman is the director of wrestling for Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, New York. He has been associated with the Farrell program for more than 30 years. As a coach and administrator, he has been involved with the world of amateur wrestling. He was introduced to the sport, in Brentwood, and then while living in North Babylon, Long Island.

As a young man, David knew little about wrestling except for the world of Bruno Sammartino and the other prominent professional wrestlers of the early 1960’s. When coach ironman’s family moved to Long Island, wrestling became the family sport. Having two older brothers Paul and Terry, Coach Ironman got to enjoy the rite of passage in wrestling as his older brothers would come home from practice and use their younger brother as the wrestling dummy, to practice the new moves they had learned. In order to compete with his brothers, Coach Ironman had to become a student of wrestling.

David wrestled in elementary school through his high school with some success. While wrestling at North Babylon High School, he wrestled for Rick Lassen, the long-time coach and contributor to wrestling in New York. The Success that he had in high school and his love for wrestling convinced him to continue wrestling in college.

David continued his wrestling career in the Sunshine State, at Broward College and later at Florida International University. While in college, he qualified twice for the JUCO Nationals before moving on to FIU. While at FIU, he was involved in a car accident that ended his competitive career. David Ironman’s love of wrestling and his desire to stay involved with amateur wrestling led him to his first coaching job as an assistant coach at Broward College. Unfortunately, with the advent of Title IX, all the colleges in Florida dropped their wrestling programs, including Broward.

After moving to Staten Island, New York, David was asked if he would come to Monsignor Farrell High School and help out with the wrestling team. More than 30 years later, Coach Ironman is still helping out at Monsignor Farrell High School.

During the Early years at Farrell, Ironman became involved with Sonny Greenhalgh, Paul Kieblesz and others in the NYC wrestling community. While much of the focus in NYC was on the success of the NYAC’s wrestling team, coach Ironman focused on the kids and high school programs.

While he coached at Monsignor Farrell, he was invited to help solidify NYSUSA wrestling’s structure. By now, coach Ironman had become an attorney and was entrusted with incorporating NYSUSA wrestling and helping prepare all the appropriate rules and regulations needed for the organization. In addition, David began the New York City section for NYSUSA wrestling. With the help of Sonny Greenhalgh, Paul Kieblesz, Umberto Fasolino, Larry Cantor and others, Coach Ironman promoted wrestling in New York City at the middle school and high school levels by hosting tournaments forming Empire State teams and coaching at the BIG APPLE Games. Wrestling began to grow in New York City.

One of the first tournaments that coach Ironman founded was the Monsignor Farrell Invitational. 2015 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Monsignor Farrell Tournament. During his tenure as tournament director, coach Ironman invited wrestlers from New York City, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and throughout New York State to participate in the tournament. Coach Ironman has been coaching for more than 30 years. In addition to coaching at Monsignor Farrell, he also coached at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For a number of years, coach Ironman would commute between New York and Fort Lauderdale.

David has been fortunate to be in the corner for Cardinal Gibbons’ first state champion as well as Monsignor Farrell’s first NYSPHSAA finalist. While a desire to produce quality wrestlers has always been a motivational factor in his career, it has been a greater desire to help produce quality citizens through wrestling.

After a lifetime of being involved with wrestling as a competitor, coach, tournament director, and administrator, coach Ironman will continue to contribute to the wrestling community as the Sectional Chairman for the Catholic League Section attempting to fill the unfillable shoes of Chaminade’s George Dugo” Dlugolonksi.

David G. Ironman has been married for 33 years to Susan Crecca Ironman, and has two children, Lisa Ironman Krivis and A.J. Ironman.