DAVID A. WHALEY, COUNSEL. J.D. - 'THE LAW DAWC'

LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS

David A. Whaley is a highly accomplished trial attorney whose experience spans multiple sectors of the legal system, providing him with a uniquely well-rounded understanding of Oklahoma law.

• Private Practice – Criminal Defense, Family Law, Business & Civil Matters
• Prosecutor – District Attorney’s Office (Two Oklahoma Counties)
•  Deputy General Counsel – State Government Agency, Capitol Complex
• Judicial Extern during law school
•  District Attorney’s Office Internship Member of Oklahoma Bar Association
• Member of Comanche County Bar Association
• Member of Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Member of Oklahoma Association For Justice
• Member of DUI Defense Lawyers Association 
•  Federally Licensed 

EDUCATION

-Oklahoma City University School of Law – Oklahoma City, OK

Juris Doctor (J.D)

Oklahoma Bar #33069

-Adams State University – Alamosa, CO

Master of Arts

Concentration: Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

Oklahoma Baptist University – Shawnee, OK

-Bachelor of Science in Education

Emphasis: Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

• Officiated six OSSAA High School Football Playoff Games

• Invited Speaker, North Texas Girls Coaches Clinic

• Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers honoree

• Coppell ISD Educator Hall of Fame inductee

• Coppell ISD Employee of the Quarter (multiple awards)

• Six-time Coppell North PTO Extra Mile Award recipient

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS

• Trained under Dr. Joe Vigil, former USA Olympic Track Coach

• Member, Reebok Vigilantes Track & Field professional group

• Member, NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championship Team

• Two-time NAIA All-American

• Five-time National Medalist

• Ten-time NAIA National Qualifier

• Head Coach, Oklahoma High School 2A Girls State Championship team

• Head Coach, Oklahoma High School 2A Boys Fourth-Place team

• Head Coach of 31 District/MOC Championship teams (Coppell North)

• Led top District/Regional qualifying teams at South Hills

• Member of three Oklahoma High School 3A Boys State Championship teams

• Six-time High School All-State athlete

• Honorable Mention, Academic All-State Basketball

• OSSAA Bob R. Williams Award recipient

BIOGRAPHY

  Before he ever stepped into a courtroom, David A. Whaley learned what it meant to fight.

Born and raised in Marlow, Oklahoma, David spent much of his early childhood battling severe asthma and extreme allergies. Before the age of ten, he spent two Christmases in the hospital and endured years of medical treatments that would have discouraged many children. Instead, those experiences forged a mindset that would define the rest of his life: challenges are not excuses—they are obstacles to overcome.

While others saw limitations, David saw opportunities to prove what was possible.

His mother encouraged his love of learning by enrolling him in a book club, where he developed a fascination with investigative stories, problem-solving, and the pursuit of truth. Those early interests planted the seeds of a dream that would eventually lead him to the practice of law.

As a young athlete, David refused to allow asthma to dictate his future. Despite medical concerns and physical setbacks, he pursued competition with relentless determination. What began as a challenge became a lifelong lesson in resilience. He earned a varsity basketball position as a sophomore before discovering a passion for distance running. Through discipline, perseverance, and an unwillingness to quit, he rose from an asthmatic child to a State Runner-Up, multiple-time Individual State Champion, State Meet Record Holder, and member of three consecutive State Championship teams. His ability to overcome adversity earned him the prestigious OSSAA Bob R. Williams Award.

That same grit followed him into college athletics, where he became a two-time NAIA All-American, five-time National Medalist, ten-time National Qualifier, and member of a National Championship team. He later trained under legendary Olympic Coach Dr. Joe Vigil and competed professionally with the Reebok Vigilantes Track Club. For David, success was never about talent alone—it was about refusing to surrender when circumstances said he should.

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and exercise physiology, David dedicated fifteen years to teaching and coaching. He became known for building championship programs and helping students discover confidence, discipline, and mental toughness. The lessons he taught were the same principles that guided his own life: preparation matters, excuses don’t, and perseverance wins.

Yet one goal remained unfinished.

Determined to fulfill a lifelong dream, David returned to law school while balancing professional responsibilities and long commutes. He earned his Juris Doctor, passed the Oklahoma Bar, and entered a legal career that would draw upon every lesson learned throughout his life.

Today, David’s approach to law reflects the journey that shaped him. Whether in the courtroom, at the negotiating table, or preparing a case, he believes challenges are meant to be confronted—not avoided. His background as an educator, coach, prosecutor, government counsel, and trial attorney provides a broad perspective, but it is his resilience, preparation, and determination that clients remember most.

The child who once spent Christmas in a hospital bed grew into a man who built a career overcoming obstacles. That same determination now drives his commitment to fight for the individuals, families, and businesses he represents.

For David A. Whaley, adversity has never been a reason to quit.

It has always been a reason to work harder and defeat the challenge.
 

Written by:

Elaina W.