Joseph Cesari's wrestling coaching career spanned 27 years from 1962-1989

During that time he compiled an overall record of 357-31-2, giving him the distinction of being Pennsylvania's all-time Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association winning percentage leader at 91.8 percentage.

Joe began his career at Cuba Central High School in Cuba, New York, where he was head coach of wrestling, football, and track. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1964 and coached football and wrestling at Ashland Area High School. In 1966, Ashland Area High School and North Schuylkill School District merged into one district.

During his coaching career at North Schuylkill, Cesari won 19 league championships, eight District 11 team championships, and five regional championships. He led his team to state championships in 1983 and 1989 and to runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1988. His teams were ranked in the top five in Pennsylvania from 1980-1989.

Cesari had eight undefeated seasons and was featured in a four-page article in Sports Illustrated on January 16, 1989.

He coached 10 individual state champions, and six of the 10 titles were won by his sons. Joe Jr. was a three-time state champion while Mark was a two-time champion and Steve was a one-time winner. Joe Jr.'s career record was 154-5-1 from 1980-84 while Steve had a 155-22-2 record from 1981-85 and Mark had a 137-8-0 record from 1985-89. All three sons attended North Carolina State and were four-year varsity lettermen for the Wolfpack.

In 1983, Cesari's state championship team finished the season with a 27-0 record for a Pennsylvania Dual Meet title.

A National High School Coach of the Year honoree, Cesari was the PA Coach of the Year in 1982, 1983, 1987 and 1989 and was District 11 Coach of the Year in 1974, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

He was inducted into the Schuylkill County Hall of Fame in 1982, the District 11 Hall of Fame in 1987, the PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

Cesari lives in Ashland with his wife of 34 years. Sandra. In addition to his sons, Joe Jr., Steve, and Mark, he has a daughter, Lisa, and three grandchildren.

For these reasons and more, Joseph Cesari is honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Lifetime Service lo Wrestling award recipient.