MANHEIM, PA - The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), in partnership with the United States Marine Corps, is proud to announce that David Ochoa, head wrestling coach at Northview High School in Covina, California, has been named the 2026 NWCA/MARINES "Battles Won" National High School Girls Head Coach of the Year.
Ochoa receives this honor with 47 years of head coaching experience and a 78–5 dual-meet record in 2025–26. Northview captured league, division, and Masters championships on the way to a third-place finish at the California state tournament. Tournament wins this season include the Big Kat Invite, the La Canada Duals, the West Coast Women's Tournament of Champions, the Southern CA TOC, and the Bishop Amat Invite.
Across his career, Ochoa has guided Northview to state-tournament finishes of 1st (2013); 2nd (2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2025); 3rd (2011, 2026); and 5th (2019). The program has captured 10 league championships, nine regional/division championships, seven Masters Championships, and three section dual championships. He has developed 194 CIF Division Placers and 36 CIF Individual Champions, 71 CIF Section Placers and 15 Section Champions, and 60 California state placers and 12 state champions.
Ochoa's previous honors include the 2008 United States Girls Wrestling Association National Coach of the Year, the 2016 California Coaches Association Girls Coach of the Year, induction into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame (2018), and induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, California Chapter (2019).
"Coach Ochoa's 47-year tenure is something the entire wrestling community should pause and celebrate," said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. "He has shaped generations of female wrestlers, World medalists, college coaches, and community leaders. Long before girls wrestling received the recognition it deserves. We are proud to partner with the United States Marine Corps to honor a coach whose lifetime of service so clearly reflects the Marine Corps' 'Battles Won' ethos."
The boys and girls Head Coach of the Year winners will be recognized during the NWCA Awards Luncheon at the 2026 NWCA Convention in Baltimore, MD, at the Renaissance Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel later this summer. More information on the convention is available at
https://nwcaconvention.com.
2026 NWCA/MARINES "Battles Won" High School Girls Head Coach of the Year - Section Winners
- Section 1 - Michael Hansen, Mt. Blue High School (Maine)
- Section 2 - Steve Ramos, Massillon Perry High School (Ohio)
- Section 3 - Doug Badon, Clarksville High School (Tennessee)
- Section 4 - Dustin Roland, Ankeny High School (Iowa)
- Section 5 - Paul Lappin, Garden City High School (Kansas)
- Section 6 - Willie Wright, Rogers High School (Arkansas)
- Section 7 - David Ochoa, Northview High School (California) - NATIONAL WINNER
- Section 8 - Marcie Lane, Sheridan High School (Wyoming)
The national winners for the remaining award categories will be announced this week:
- June 17 - Boys National Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year
- June 18 - Boys National Head Coach if the Year
