FARGO, N.D. – National Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach Arthur “Bucky” Maughan, who led the North Dakota State University wrestling program for 47 seasons from 1964 to 2011, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 83.
Maughan’s Bison teams won four NCAA Division II national championships in 1988, 1998, 2000 and 2001 as well as making six national runner-up finishes.
During NDSU’s Division II era, he coached 21 wrestlers to 30 NCAA Division II national championships and had 19 wrestlers compete in the Division I championships, including six placewinners. Maughan led NDSU to 17 North Central Conference titles, including a span of nine straight from 1982-1990, and coached 88 NCC individual champions.
Maughan also successfully guided the Bison into the program’s Division I era. He coached five Western Wrestling Conference champions and sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Division I championships.
Maughan finished his 47-year Bison career with a record of 467 wins, 157 losses and 13 ties in dual meets. He led NDSU to three undefeated seasons in 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2003-04.
A native of Canonsburg, Pa., Maughan was a Pennsylvania state champion during his high school career. He was a two-time NAIA national champion at MSU Moorhead in 1962 and 1963, and also claimed the 1963 NCAA Division I championship at 115 pounds.
Inducted into the NDSU Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, Maughan was also inducted into the halls of fame for Pennsylvania High School Wrestling, NAIA Wrestling, NCAA Division II Wrestling, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and the MSU Moorhead Dragons.
A celebration of life is being arranged and details will be made available at a later date.