Wallace Coffey is truly one of the pioneers of wrestling in the western part of Virginia.

Coffey joined the military in 1951 during the Korean War. During his four years in the service, he was active in wrestling and competed against college and club teams.

He began officiating high school and college matches in and around the Roanoke Valley in 1957.

Believed to be the best official in the state by many coaches and wrestlers, Coffey officiated four state tournaments, including the first 1B Virginia State Wrestling Tournament at Northside High School in 1967.