Jim Davey began his wrestling career in 1936. During his high school competitive years at Valley Stream Central, Jim won the South Shore Championship, The Mepham Invitational and the Long Island Championship.

Jim’s competitive years were interrupted for three years during the Second World War, where he served in the United States Marine Corps. In the post war years Jim resumed his wrestling career at Cortland State College and wrestling on one of Cortland’s most famous teams, Jim helped them to 2.5 undefeated seasons.

After graduating from Cortland, he began coaching at South Side High School in Rockville Centre where his teams won the South Shore League Championship, and then at Oceanside High School where he produced place winners in the South Shore Championships and 3 Long Island Champions.

In 1956, Jim began his career as a college coach at C.W. Post, where he instituted their first intercollegiate wrestling program. During his tenure at Post, he produced 3 Conference Team Championships, 5 outstanding wrestler award winners, 38 intercollegiate champions, 2 NCAA Division II Champions and 15 Division II All-Americans.

In 1979 Jim was recognized for his vast contributions to the sport of wrestling when he was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame in Syracuse. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997. Coach Davey remains active in wrestling by attending the United States Naval Academy bouts whenever possible, and the EIWA Championships. The Davey name remains well known on Long Island through the many family members involved in today’s wrestling community as wrestlers, coaches and officials.