Hall of Fame

Bill Garland

  • Class
    1958
  • Induction
    2001
  • Sport(s)

Minnesota State University Moorhead
Head Wrestling Coach
1959-1986

Garland is a product of Bloomington, Ind. and the Indiana University wrestling program. At IU, he was a three-time letterman and placed fourth in the Big Ten Tournament qualifying for nationals his senior season. He served with distinction as the head wrestling coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead for 28 seasons (1959-1986) and is credited for creating the Golden Age of Wrestling at MSUM. Garland guided the Dragons to the 1964 NAIA National Championship and to seven other top 10 national finishes. For his leadership he was named NAIA National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1964. During his tenure at MSUM he produced 54 All-Americans and 11 national champions. In 1964, ABC's Wide World of Sports televised Arthur "Bucky" Maughan's NCAA Division I national championship victory at 115 pounds. MSUM also gained national recognition the previous year when Bob Billberg finished as the Division I runner-up in the heavyweight class. In 1984, he was inducted into the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, which makes him one of five Dragons to be so honored. Garland is retired and currently resides in Fargo, N.D.