David Rothwell
Year Inducted: 2019
David Rothwell, after 20 years coaching football and wrestling and teaching physical education, became athletic director and assistant principal at Statesville High School in 1992. In 1997, he became principal of East Iredell Elementary School and in 2001 athletic director for the Iredell-Statesville Schools system until his retirement in 2012.
After graduating from Appalachian State University, Rothwell returned to his alma mater, Albemarle, to coach football and wrestling from 1972-1978. There he coached three wrestlers to Western North Carolina High School Activities Association (WNCHSAA) individual championships. From 1978-1981, he coached at Asheboro. In 1981, Rothwell coached at Statesville High School until his retirement from coaching in 1992. Rothwell’s Greyhounds compiled a record of 156-10 with nine conference championships, three regional titles, a 3A State Tournament Championship, a 3A State Dual Team Runners-Up and four individual state champions. He served as Team Director to the Junior National Team Tournament in Iowa in 1989 and 1990. MAT NEWS named him 3A State Coach of the Year 1992. In his 20 years of coaching, Rothwell was conference Coach of the Year 11 times with an overall coaching record of 231-42-3.
After he retired from coaching, Rothwell served as official 3A scorekeeper at the NCHSAA Wrestling Championships for 26 years. He is a lifetime member of the North Carolina Coaches Association. He served on the committee to revise the DPI middle school athletic manuals in 2005 and 2010 and on the NCHSAA committee for realignment. From the NCHSAA, Rothwell received the Proclamation of Achievement Award in 1994 and the Award of Merit in 1995. He was named the Region 7 Athletic Director of the Year in 2002 and served as the NCADA President in 2006. In 2008, Rothwell received the NIAAA State Award of Merit. In 2010, Rothwell was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was honored with the Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award for Region 7 and was named the NCAAE Athletic Director of the Year in North Carolina. In 2014, Rothwell was inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was inducted into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
