Gray Simons coached 17 years as the Monarchs head wrestling coach, mentoring 27 wrestlers who qualified for nationals, and five All-Americans. In 1994, ODU captured the CAA Championship and Simons was named CAA Coach of the Year. The two-time Olympian and member of seven Hall of Fames, Simons compiled a 131-106-2 coaching record at ODU from 1987 to 2004. His overall 36-year collegiate record at 324-194-5. Simons was a member of the 1960 and 1964 US Olympic teams in Rome and Tokyo, respectively while he placed sixth in the 1960 Olympiad. During his collegiate career at Lock Haven, he compiled a 91-2 record from 1959-62, winning 84 straight, four NAIA, and three NCAA National Championships. He was twice voted as the Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Tournament and was named outstanding wrestler in six of seven national meets, an accomplishment that has never been repeated. Simons was named the 33rd most important athlete of the century from the state of Virginia by Sports Illustrated in Dec. of 1999. He retired from ODU on March 2, 2004. He and wife Mary reside in Virginia Beach.