The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that Arthur "Bucky" Maughan, a Distinguished Member inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 83. 

A celebration of life is being arranged and details will be made available at a later date. 

"On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and our staff, I extend our sincere sympathies to Bucky's family and the many wrestlers who wrestled for and worked with him," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "He not only built a successful and sustainable culture that resulted in success as a coach, but also helped grow our sport and developed relationships that reach far and wide." 

A man of legendary tenacity, Maughan is one of the all-time great contributors to the sport of wrestling. As a competitor, coach, and tournament host, his Pennsylvania work ethic impacted the past, the present, and the future of the sport. 

During his prep career in wrestling rich Pennsylvania, he compiled a string of 70 dual victories culminating in a state championship. Continuing his career at Minnesota State University Moorhead, he won three national collegiate championships in two years - two NAIA crowns (1961 and 1963) as well as the 1963 NCAA title. 

In 1964, his passion for the sport led him to become the head coach of North Dakota State University, a position he held until 2011. Teaching fundamentals to the "fledgling" team, he took the program from virtual obscurity to an NCAA Division II powerhouse. 

Maughan's Bison teams won four NCAA Division II national championships in 1988, 1998, 2000 and 2001 as well as making six national runner-up finishes. 

During NDSU's Division II era, he coached 21 wrestlers to 30 NCAA Division II national championships and had 19 wrestlers compete in the Division I championships, including six place-winners. Maughan led NDSU to 17 North Central Conference titles, including a span of nine straight from 1982-1990, and coached 88 NCC individual champions. 

Maughan also successfully guided the Bison into the program's Division I era. He coached five Western Wrestling Conference champions and sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Division I championships. 

Maughan finished his 47-year Bison career with a record of 467-157-13 ties in dual meets. He led NDSU to undefeated seasons in 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2003-04. 

A tireless promoter of the sport, Maughan played a key role in the success of the USA Wrestling Junior and the Cadet National Championships hosted annually in Fargo, North Dakota. These events infuse the sport of wrestling with life and shape the future as thousands of athletes participate each summer. 

Maughan is a past president of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association and a past member of the executive committee of the National Coaches Association. He is a member of the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame, Minnesota State University Moorhead Hall of Fame, and the North Dakota State University Bison Athletic Hall of Fame.