A prominent New Jersey girls wrestling coach who built one of New Jersey's most prominent training clubs is now under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct involving one or more female athletes. Dave Cordoba, 44, was placed in the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Centralized Disciplinary Database on August 13, 2026, which imposed both a temporary suspension and a no-contact directive tied to his affiliation with USA Wrestling. By the morning of August 18, the doors of his Fairfield gym, Cordoba Trained Wrestling Club, were locked.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed it launched its investigation after allegations were referred by Fairfield police, according to NJ.com, which first reported the case. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said the inquiry centers on alleged sexual misconduct involving athletes who trained at Cordoba's Fairfield gym. As of August 17, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna said no arrest had been made, and Cordoba did not return multiple phone messages and emails seeking comment, per the outlet's reporting.
SafeSport itself does not comment on specific cases or allegations, a policy consistent with the agency's practice of confirming only the existence of disciplinary entries rather than underlying details. The organization's temporary suspension and no-contact order took effect while the case remains open, leaving unanswered questions about what specific conduct triggered the database entry.
A Regional Powerhouse for Girls Wrestling
Cordoba opened Cordoba Trained in a former furniture store in Fairfield in 2019, and the operation grew from in-home private lessons into a 5,000-square-foot facility on U.S. 46, according to the club's own website. The gym advertises an “All Girls Class,” per Cordoba Trained Wrestling Club. NJ.com reported the club had 62 girls training there in 2024 and had become a primary training center for several former state champions.
The club's rise tracked with the sport's rapid statewide growth after girls wrestling was sanctioned as an official sport by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association in 2018, per NJ.com's reporting. Girls team tournament materials are listed for the 2025-2026 season. NJSIAA materials also reference 2026 committee minutes.
Community Advocates Sound the Alarm
After the SafeSport entry became public, a New Jersey Women's Wrestling Facebook page posted a statement urging protection of girls and saying, “Do not whisper his name,” as reported by Daily Voice. The outlet also noted Cordoba's Pine Brook residency alongside the disciplinary filing.
Nationally, girls wrestling has exploded in popularity, with participation reaching a record 74,000 high schoolers during the 2024-25 school year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. That growth has occurred alongside specialized private academies like Cordoba's, even as youth wrestling programs across the country face heightened scrutiny over athlete safety. A similar case unfolded in Texas this past May, when high school girls wrestling coach William “Billy” Durning resigned amid grooming allegations, prompting a criminal investigation and a separate civil inquiry, with possible organizational and SafeSport implications.
How SafeSport's Authority Differs From Criminal Charges
The U.S. Center for SafeSport's disciplinary database includes temporary suspensions and no-contact directives. In general, a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard means more likely than not, a lower bar than the criminal court standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
Federal law addresses reporting suspected child sexual abuse, but the available information does not establish that it gives SafeSport authority to issue interim measures. Those distinctions matter here: Cordoba's administrative suspension does not depend on criminal charges being filed, and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office has not announced any.
From State Champion to Club Owner
Cordoba's standing in New Jersey wrestling circles traces back to his own competitive career. He became the first wrestler from Kearny and the second from Hudson County to win a state title in 1999, finishing an undefeated season and closing his high school career with a 138-4 record, according to NJ.com. That same year, he defeated future MMA star Frankie Edgar in the NJSIAA 130-pound state final and was a three-time state finalist before moving to the collegiate level.
In a separate earlier case, the available information does not identify the defendant or specify the offense. The available sources do not provide details of a separate prior New Jersey case.
Reflecting on his path in a 2024 interview with northjersey.com, Cordoba said he was once told he was wasting his time — a comment NJ.com's reporting frames against the gym he later built into one of the state's most prominent girls wrestling programs. It remains unclear whether additional individuals have come forward to investigators, how USA Wrestling and area high schools will handle athletes who trained under Cordoba, or whether he will contest his SafeSport suspension through the organization's arbitration process.
