Jeff Cuilty's managing, coaching, teaching and leadership roles span different schools and two different sections. He has blended the teachings from business into the wrestling domain, which is very unique and has had a profound effect on the sport. Jeff graduated from Lehigh University in 1979 with a BS Degree in Accounting and Finance. He has a Masters in Science in Business Education from Lehman College, and an SAS Administrative degree from SUNY New Paltz. While at Lehigh University, he served the wrestling program as Varsity Manager earning four varsity letters. He learned from Coach Thad Turner (the NCAA-Division One Coach of the Year in 1979) working numerous hours every week during the season. Jeff and his wife, Carolyn, have been married for 30 years and have resided in the Newburgh area for 21 years. Together they have raised two children, Britny and Bryan. Britny was a 6 year varsity wrestling letter winner as scorekeeper and Bryan was 5 year Varsity letter winner and 2 time sectional place winner. Coach Cuilty is responsible for providing strategic leadership to Section IX, as its chair and voice throughout the State. His leadership continues with the Friends of Section IX, as finance chair and tournament director for the Eastern States Tournament which is recognized as a premier tournament (125 teams from 6 states) on the East Coast. Jeff's strategic leadership is visible at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association annual State Tournament, as creator and analyst of the "At-Large" system by which wrestlers are able to compete. He also sits on the NYS Seeding Committee and has helped to develop its criteria. In his work as coach, Jeff has built an impressive resume of accomplishments and awards. His current overall coaching record stands at 399-180-8. He has been the Head Varsity Coach at Ardsley in Section I and Newburgh Free Academy in Section IX. Jeff is currently the Head Varsity Coach at Wallkill High School. This past year his team set a school record for wins (23), most Section IX finalists (7) and achieved its first ever State ranking ending at 14th. He has coached 35 individual Sectional Champions and 19 NYS Tournament Place Winners. Of those many individual successes, four resonate and echo Jeff's ability to create leaders. His brother Gregg was his first Section I Champ at Ardsley. Gregg has coached at Horace Mann since 1994. Mike Rydell was his first Section IX Champion and is his current supervisor as Principal at Wallkill High School. Roberto Padilla, was a NYS Finalist in 1996 and is the current Superintendent of Schools at Newburgh where Jeff is employed as a teacher and Phil Szumlaski (3rd NYS in 2004) is now an opposing coach in Section IX at Warwick. Jeff has been twice recognized as Coach-of-the-Year, 2008 and 2013, and Person-of-the-Year, 2004 and 2007 by the Friends of Section IX Wrestling. In 2011, he was inducted into the NYS Wrestling Coaches Hall-of-Fame. Jeff has also been involved in his community by coaching youth and high school soccer for 35 years. Coach Jeff Cuilty is a well-respected member of the Section IX wrestling community and beyond. He possesses the highest degree of reliability and integrity. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame welcomes Jeff Cuilty for induction into the class of 2015 and recipient of its Lifetime Service Award.