Montana State Northern Lights & Skylights Athletics

David Ray, the Lights Wrestling coach from 1993 to 2005, brought the Lights Wrestling to the top of the Frontier conference and the nation. Ray was named Coach of the Year 10 times during his 12 years at Northern. Ray also was National Coach of the year 4 times as he led his team to 4 NAIA National Championships. Ray's time coaching the Lights Wrestling ended with a dual coaching record of 135-30-4. Besides leading his team to 4 national titles, Ray coached 6 individuals who received the Outstanding Wrestler of the National Tournament Award. Ray produced 85 All-Americans, 21 national champions, and finished in the top 3 at the NAIA national tournament 7 times in 12 seasons. David also coached Emmett Willson who won three 197 lb. national championships and in 2003 was named the Hodge Trophy winner. The Hodge Trophy is the Heisman Trophy of wrestling. This means that Emmett was voted the top wrestler in the nation among all divisions, NCAA division 1, NCAA II, NCAA III, and NAIA. Ray also gets to share this night with one of his former wrestlers Turk Lords who won 4 national titles.