Gaylord Strand wrestled for Hall of Fame coach LaMont Simons at Woodburn High School and helped the Bulldogs win an Oregon state team championship.

He wrestled four years at Seattle Pacific University for Frank Furtado, who later became the trainer for the Seattle Supersonics. Strand was a three-time NCAA Division II qualifier who was also a two-time team captain and the team's Most Valuable Wrestler in 1974.

Strand began his career at Yelm High School in 1974 as the head wrestling coach and a physical education teacher.

During his 42-year coaching career at Yelm, Strand's team won 14 league titles, six regional championships and had nine top-six finishes at the Washington state tournament, including winning the state title in 2010.

He has coached 95 state place-winners and 15 state champions while 12 of his wrestlers were academic state champions.

His 42-year dual meet record is 317-181-4.

Strand has been active in wrestling statewide as a coach for exchange teams to Mexico and China while also coaching the Washington team at the 1979 National Junior Olympics. He has also hosted touring teams from other countries and coached at numerous freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments.

He has also officiated at the National Freestyle Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Strand has been named league Coach of the Year 12 times, regional Coach of the Year seven times and twice has been the recipient of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's Washington State Sportsmanship Coach of the Year.

Described by fellow coaches as a "gentleman who is competitive, ethical and respected," Strand was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.

In addition to coaching wresting, Strand has been the throwing coach for the Yelm High School track program for 40 years and has coached four state champions and numerous state place-winners in shotput, discuss and javelin.

He and his wife, Sarah, reside in Olympia, Washington and have two grown children, Kristyn and Gabe, and one grandchild.