NWCA announces four coaches as Lifetime Honorary Members
by
Jason Bryant | Aug 29, 2007
Each one of them has a legacy and each one of them has a place in history.
A unanimous vote from the full board of the National Wrestling
Coaches Association on August 16 in Lake Tahoe, Nev., secured former
coaches Dan Hinkel, Tom Jarman, John Sacchi, and Tony Iasiello as
Lifetime Honorary Members of the National Wrestling Coaches
Association.
Jarman, the long-time wrestling coach and Athletic Director at
Division III Manchester College, announced his retirement this season
and has long been an active member of the wrestling community.
A coach for over 40 years, Jarman had a career coaching record of
414-144-1 and is also a member of the Division III Wrestling Coaches
Hall of Fame. In addition to his recognition in the D-3 Wrestling
Coaches Hall of Fame, Jarman’s been honored by five different halls of
fame including the Indiana and Illinois Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.
“Tom Jarman is a throwback coach, but he’s always been at the
forefront of mentoring wrestlers as students, athletes and future
coaches,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “His service to
wrestling has been instrumental wherever he’s coached, whether it is at
the Division I level at Northwestern or most recently at Manchester,
where he coached the last 18 years.”
Jarman’s success included eight straight Heartland Collegiate
Athletic Conference championships from 1992-1999 and then titles in
2002-04 and again in 2007. In 12 of the 18 years Manchester won the
conference, Jarman was named Coach of the Year seven times and Midwest
Regional Coach of the Year four times, most recently in 2004.
“Tom has been a very industrious leader,” said NWCA President Ron
Mirikitani. “The entire group we voted in this year was incredibly
worthy and we’re honored to be recognizing them as Lifetime Honorary
Members of our organization.”
John Sacchi has graced the mat in New Jersey for 41 years. After
retiring as the head coach at Rutgers this past spring, Sacchi left
coaching with a career record of 447-162-9, which was second among
active head coaches before his retirement.
Before his 17-year run at Rutgers, Sacchi spent two and a half
decades at Middlesex Community College and is a member of the NJCAA
Hall of Fame.
Sacchi’s been honored with two previous NWCA awards – the 25-year
service award and the 400 wins certificate. He’s also been recognized
by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Lifetime Service Award
winner.
“John Sacchi is one of the most enjoyable coaches to have been
around,” said Mirikitani. “He has over 40 years of coaching expertise
and has been successful at both the NCAA and NJCAA levels.”
Kutztown’s Dan Hinkel retired from full-time coaching in 1996, but
he’s not been away from the coaching corner – he’s still serving as a
volunteer coach at the school he coached
“Coach Hinkel’s been a guru of wrestling at Kutztown,” said
Mirikitani. “He is loyal to his former coaches and wrestlers and still
is a big part of the program at Kutztown.”
Hinkel, like the rest of the honorees, has a long list of
accolades. While currently serving on the NWCA Board of Directors and a
donor to the organization, Hinkel’s a member of the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Berks County Wrestling Hall of
Fame.
Tony Iasiello stepped away from coaching at Bethlehem Catholic in 2004 and is another worthy honoree.
A member of the PIAA Wrestling Hall of Fame and a Lifetime Service
Award recipient from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Iasiello has
been active in promoting wrestling and a leader on many different
levels.
Iasiello was the only coach Bethlehem Catholic had ever had until
his retirement in 2004. He had a 408-222-2 record in the rugged
District XI and coached 11 PIAA State Champions and produced two NCAA
champions – Tom Sculley and Pat Santoro.
He started the District XI Wrestling Hall of Fame and Scholar
Athlete Programs, and has served on the board for the Pennsylvania
Wrestling Coaches Association as well as the Vice President for
Scholastic Affairs with the NWCA for three years. He’s also been the
president of the District XI Wrestling Coaches.
“There aren’t many words that do him justice,” said Moyer. “He’s
first class on every level. He gets things done and is actively seeking
to improve the sport.”
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928,
is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide
leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling
with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The
membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.
The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes
communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and
regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and
informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the
sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic
competition.