Dave Watters spent 31 years teaching at Wheeling High School. For 16 of those years, Dave served as the head boy’s gymnastics coach. As the head coach, his teams won 8 division championships, 5 Mid Suburban League championships, 7 I.H.S.A. regional championships, and 5 I.H.S.A. sectional championships. Dave also coached 7 teams to the I.H.S.A. state gymnastics meet. Dave’s 1981 and 1982 teams finished 4th in the state, his 1979 team finished 3rd in the state, and in 1978 he coached the Wildcats to a runner up finish in the I.H.S.A. state gymnastics meet. Dave also had 6 of his teams gain recognition as a National Gymnastics Association All-American Team. He had countless athletes compete in the state meet, with a number of them winning state titles. Dave’s excellence earned him the Mid Suburban League coach of the year three times.

While at Wheeling, Dave taught health education for 31 years. He earned the District 214 Excellence in Education Award and was named the District 214 Health Teacher of the Year. Dave’s contributions go beyond his teaching and athletic career. In his retirement, Dave runs a cabinet making business and he is responsible for our beautiful Hall of Fame display. He designed and built the display when Wheeling instituted the Athletic Hall of Fame. Dave will always cherish the memories of working with such a great group of athletes and students.