EDMOND – Legendary wrestling coach David James is back where he belongs.
James led Central Oklahoma's powerhouse program to 12 national championships during a remarkable 34-year career that ended in 2016 and is now returning to the Bronchos as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season.
"I'm a proud Broncho and am grateful to be back," James said. "UCO has always been everything to me, so to come back is a true blessing. I'm so excited and I just want to help Coach (Todd) Steidley any way I can.
"This is a special place, especially if you want to wrestle and go to a great university. UCO is second to none. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of the past guys and helping the guys we have here now."
James joins Steidley and top assistant Scott Chenoweth to give UCO a veteran staff that is accustomed to championship success.
That threesome has a combined 75 years of head coaching experience with 33 high school state and college national championships between them.
"We are so excited to add Coach James to our staff," Steidley said. "He's a proven winner and leader. His knowledge and experience will benefit the program. I'm glad that we were able to bring him back home."
James was a standout on the mat for UCO before taking over the coaching reigns, becoming the program's first-ever four-time All-American from 1976-80. He was a two-time NAIA national champion and finished with a fabulous 116-16 career record.
James spent one season as UCO's graduate assistant coach and another as an assistant at Edmond Memorial High School before taking over the Central job in 1983.
What followed was one of the most successful coaching careers in collegiate history, regardless of sport.
James directed the Bronchos to five NAIA titles before UCO transitioned to NCAA Division II in 1990 and then proceeded to add seven more championships. Central had 24 top four national finishes under James – including five runner-up showings – and placed either first or second in the national tournament an uncanny 13 straight years from 1984-96.
UCO also captured 19 NCAA regional titles under James' tutelage, winning 15 straight during one unprecedented run. He coached 182 All-Americans and 48 individual national champions, with Johnny Nimmo (1987-88-89-90) and Cole Province (2000-01-02-03) becoming rare four-time winners on the collegiate level.
A seven-time National Coach of the Year winner, James finished with a 396-144-5 dual record that included 56 Division I wins over teams like Boise State, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri and North Carolina State.
James served as an assistant coach at Edmond North High School the past 10 years, helping lead the Huskies to one state championship and three runner-up finishes.
