Dan Spilde grew up on a family farm with parents Arlan and Nancy and older brother Kent. He started his wrestling career as a youth in the Stoughton wrestling program. Even with the demands of the farm and full-time employment off the farm for Arlan, his parents always made time for wrestling. Dan took to wrestling and never looked back, never even thinking about walking away from the sport.

Dan attended Stoughton high school, where he wrestled for legendary coach and National Hall of Fame member LaVerne Pieper. He posted a career record of 117-17-1 and won an individual state title in 1987 and took fifth in 1988 during his senior year where he served as a captain. He was fortunate to wrestle on incredible teams! His freshman and sophomore year the team finished as state runner-up, and his junior and senior year, state champions. In 1988 his team set a state tournament record of 140 points. The record stood for years and was unbroken until there were more weight classes.

After graduating from Stoughton, Dan moved on to the University of Wisconsin and wrestled for Olympic Silver Medalist and NCAA champion Andy Rein. He red-shirted his first year and then competed as a part time starter the following year and was able to win the spot for the Big Ten tournament. Dan competed as a full-time starter for three years, never missing a dual or tournament and qualifying for the NCAA's all three years. He was a captain his senior year winning a Big 10 Title at 142 pounds and finished his Badger career record 99-41 record.

Graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in animal science, Dan went back to farm with his family. However, Dan still wanted to be involved in wrestling and was given the opportunity to be an assistant coach under LaVerne Pieper. It was a dream come true to return to Stoughton and work with one of his greatest mentors. After one year as an assistant, Coach Pieper turned the program over and he became head coach at Stoughton High School. In his first year as head coach, Stoughton tied for an unofficial title at the state individual tournament. During his tenure at Stoughton, he has lead the Vikings to 17 Badger Conference titles, 21 WIAA Regional titles, 13 WIAA Division 1 State Team Qualifying berths, 5 WIAA Team State Runner-up finishes, 4 State Individual State titles (Recognized by the WWCA), and back to back State Team Championships in 2018 and 2019. He has led 84 Individual Badger Conference Champions, 117 State Individual Qualifiers, 65 State Place Winners, and 19 Individual State Champions. In addition, two student/athletes have wrestled on a USA Greco World Team. Dan has been recognized by the Wisconsin State Journal as Coach of the Year for wrestling five times and Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association District Coach of the Year eight times.

Dan has been blessed with numerous great coaches working by his side throughout his career in Stoughton. None more significant than Bob Empey who joined the Stoughton program as an assistant in 1996 and joined forces with Dan as co-head coach in 1999.

Dan's coaching career also included volunteering for many years in the youth program in Stoughton and conducting volunteer clinics helping other programs. His career expanded as his children Cade, Luke, and Claire all chose to wrestle. Dan has a Bronze Level Coaching Certificate from USA wrestling and served as coach for the Wisconsin Schoolboy Team in 2015, as well as assisting with girls wrestling functions.

Dan is grateful for the sport of wrestling and what it has taught him and done for him over the years. To this day, many of his greatest friends are those he has met through wrestling. He is extremely proud of all the young athletes that have turned into great people. He is very proud of the effort and accomplishments of Cade, Luke, and Claire and most importantly, he is grateful for the 100% support of his wife Lisa. Without her moral support, advice, encouragement, and sometimes even personal counseling, his coaching career would not have made it this far. She is truly his better half! He would like to extend a thank you to all who were involved in nominating and accepting him into this prestigious Hall of Fame.

Dan Spilde career accomplishments

Graduate of Stoughton High School 1988 Stoughton, WI
Record: 117-17-1
1987 WIAA State Champion 132 lbs.
1988 WIAA State Placewinners 5th
3x Badger Conference Champion
3x Badger State Champion
2x State Team Runners-up 1985, 1986
2x State Team Champions 1987, 1988
1988 Team Captain

Graduate of the University of Wisconsin 1993
Record: 99-41
1993 Big Ten Champion 142 lbs.
3x NCAA Division 1 National Qualifier
3x “Never Say Die Award” Winner
Captain 1993

Coaching
Assistant Coach---Stoughton High School 1993-94
Head Wresting Coach---Stoughton High School 1995-1998
Co-Head Coach—Stoughton High School 1999-Present
8x WWCA District 5 Coach of the Year
5x Wisconsin State Journal Coach of the Year
Badger Conference Team Championships (17)
84 Badger Conference Champions
117 WIAA Individual State Qualifiers
65 WIAA Individual State Place Winners
19 Individual State Champions
7 USA Wrestling High School All-Americans
2 Greco World Team Members
21 WIAA Regional Team Championships
13 WIAA Division 1 State Team Berths
4x WIAA Individual State Tournament Champions
5x WIAA Division 1 Team State Team Runner-up
2018 and 2019 WIAA Division 1 State Team Champions
2009 WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Team State Sportsmanship Award Winners
2017, 2018, 2019 Nationally Ranked Teams
Career Dual Record: 399-100

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