When I first heard the news that Fox Lane coach Joe Amuso had announced his retired last Tuesday night, it sort of caught me off guard. With New Rochelle’s Jim Guccione and Carmel’s Bill Twardy officially announcing their retirements at the All-Section Brunch a few weeks back and no word from Amuso, I along with many others assumed that Amuso would be back for his 42nd season. In fact, I had even had a conversation with Amuso about his team’s outlook for next season.
This is apparently something that Amuso has considered for a few years now, and he said that he wasn’t completely sure of his decision until some point in the middle of the Fox Lane team dinner last Tuesday. He leaned over and told assistant coach Anthony Rodrigues, and then promptly made the announcement — similarly to how one might rip off a band-aid in one full swoop to limit the pain. I know this sport means everything to Amuso, which is why it was so hard for him to walk away.
Amuso’s place in history can be debated, but statistically, he’s the best coach in Section 1 history. He’s the all-time wins leader with 406 and coached five section championship teams. Incredibly, he’s only had one losing season in the last 36. He finished his career on a high-note, winning four of the last five Division 1 section titles. For the full story, here is the link.
47 Comments
Congratulations Joe on both the retirement and stellar career. I don’t believe there is any debating that Joe Amuso is the finest coach Section 1 has ever had!
when will the Rockland county coaches All-County teams be announced?
General,
All of my all-star selections will run next Thursday, April 12.
Any idea who is taking over at Fox Lane? Will it be Rodrigues?
Is that when it will be in the journal news as well?
Veteran – hopefully it’ll be john degl = only coach to reorganize team & make it star again
what do u do next year if you hire degl? he couldnt last more than a year in a high school setting. he couldnt make it more than a year at his own hs, where he won a state title. im thinking it will be arod, but what about joe Boxer? Former Fox lane wrestler.
What about Joe Amuso jr ?
joe boxer is coach of westchester community college
hs wrestling today is high tech – constant changing – coaches have to be on top of it all the time – on the mat w/wrestlers – high tech motivation – never ending all the time – can’t race a car w/o engine – likewise – can’t coach w/o engine
Wrestling high tech is one of the silliest things I have heard in a long time. Jordan Borough must have a high tech double and single then!
high tech is competition all the way – win all the way;other is rec…either wrestle to win or have a good time…coaches who are high tech make it their biz to know latest techniques and instruct it with wrestlers on mat making them wn all the way to state titles..other is recreational mode…physical fitness and stay healthy thru wrestling..
So in your opinion Its better to learn something new all the time, than to perfect moves that have been around forever? So learning How to do the flying squirl is better than burroughs double. Ive seen both work.
Keep posting Wrestle23 you make me laugh.
wow coach rogers – glad i never had u as a coach!!!
Keep them coming 23. Please tell me about your high tech approach to the stand up.
On a real note Clarkstown South is now open Monday and Wednesday nights from 7 to 9. Bring your USA card and find a group to work with.
@W23, high tech, you must be f’ing kidding me. The sport has been around since the dawn of man. high tech…there are no new moves, just that guys like you change the names every once in a while.
ps….winning all the way has also been around for many many centuries, call it giving 100%, win at all costs, train to win whatever, now I guess we have “high tech” LMAO.
gotta ? did amuso quit cause he didn’t get any his wrestlers to win state titles?
Amuso DID have a wrestler that won a state title, last year – Steven Rodrigues. Amuso has also had other state finalists last year (Sam Speno and Danny Ventura) and this year (Speno … Ventura placed 5th this year despite being hampered by injury). Amuso had an additional state place finisher this year (Matt Pasqualini, who placed 5th). Tommy Grippi was a 4th wrestler on the team that went to states this year, winning a couple of matches there … and will be returning as a senior next year. Amuso’s team finished # 4 in the state this year (without Steven Rodrigues, who graduated the previous year) and # 2 in the state last year. I think most folks would agree that Amuso is leaving on a high note.
As I’ve said in a previous post… beyond all the wrestling achievements, Amuso is a class act and a role model we’re happy our kids have had.
Finalists aren’t title holders. There were none this year title holders.
I think disanto and the ossining coach are only current coaches in Sec 1 that have coached a state champ. Like the article said amuso was thinking about leaving for a few years now, he left on top as most would love to do. Next year Fox lane may be a little down but 2-3 years they have the talent to be back on top with the right coach.
@old skool- also lavalle from Hen Hud had a 2x State Champ.
I forgot he was back as Head coach. Thanks for reminder
Bob Berno. Craig Zern. Whoever sat in the corner for Osleeb. Fred Perry.
Did Arlington switch coaches since the 2010-2011 season? Jimmy Duckham won a state title for Arlington that year.
I need to lay off the crack pipe lol. So Its ossining, arlington, hen hud, mahopac, pleasantville, ardsley.
Although arlington, hen hud, pleasantville were only coaches to coach the kid their entire hs career.
old skool, Coach Rogers, who were the state champs that the Hen Hud coach had? Who is Craig Zern and where does he coach and who are the champs?
Also old skool, just a point of clarification: Bobby B had his state champ while coaching at Irvington not at Pleasantville. In addition, he is the only coach in section 1 history to win a sectional team title without having a sectional champion that same year 2 years ago at Pleasantville!!
Anthony alberti is the hen hud state champ, 1990ish. Zern coached gottfried at ardsley. Vulpone coached him for hud first 3-4 years on varsity.
Basically Chief we need more champs! Wrestling in section one is improving and I hope we can continue to progress. The top section kids for next year are working now.
Agreed Rogers. And you and Lourenzi are doing a fantastic job with South’s open mats on Mondays and Wednesday evenings. AND ITS FREE.
OldSkool, thanks for the clarification on Zern. How long was lavelle gone from Hen Hud, seems like it was quite some time no?
Brendan, you have always been at the forefront of trying to improve thinks around here, keep up the good work
Lastly, concerning Joe Amuso Sr: I am very sorry to see such a good coach and classy gentleman leave the section 1 coaching family, but Joe knows what is best for Joe. Best of luck to both Joe and Carmen in the future and here’s to a long, happy and healthy retirement, ENJOY!
a supposed FLHS fan ? you can use any name you want, thinks there is something wrong with Amuso not having a state champ, any idea how many varisty coaches in NY didnt have a state champ ? i guess its what at least 500 ? 100 on the island ? 75 in section 1 probably the same in buffalo and rochester ? thats just NY, how many coaches in the country didnt coach a state champ ?
I am happy I have had the chance to coach against Bill Twarty, Jim Guccione and Joe Amuso. Three coaches that ran strong programs for many years and never needed to toot their own horn. Section 1 will go through a change over the next few years with veteran coaches retiring and new coaches rising up. This is evident with programs like Brewster, North Rockland and Yorktown having great seasons last year. I am excited for section 1 and hope that Clarkstown South can join the big boys in the future. Congrats Bill, Jim and Joe for being great leaders to your programs and fine examples of what a head coach should be to the rest of us young pups. Enjoy your retirement.
Come on C.South step up with the big boys and get some young coaches in there like Brewster and Yorktown !!!!!
lol just kidding big guy lol
While Coach Amuso did a commendable job over the years, a stellar job I might add, his disposition recently didn’t prove successful with four wrestlers vying for state titles and none earning a title. Times have changed and so too has Amuso. Time’s right for Amuso to step aside and allow someone younger to take the reigns and get the Fox wrestlers to preform like they did in the past including capturing state titles.
flhsfan, Are you suggesting that one state title in 2 years is not acceptable … and that you expected Coach Amuso to coach two different wrestlers to state titles in two consecutive years?? EXCUUUUUSE ME!!! Even in the current year when he did not have a state title holder, how many other coaches can claim a section title, 4 section champions and 3 state placeholders?
If Fox Lane has any chance at a state champ next year, it would be Tommy Grippi. I read an interview in which Tommy was quoted as saying “Coach Amuso is one of the people I want to win a state title for”.
listen a coach doesnt win a state championship for a kid, at that level its not your coach. Coaches motivate, prepare, but wrestling coaching is done in the practice room, on the mat its one-on-one, best sport out there.
Amuso has changed since last year ? is that your argument ? that he had the right disposition last year ? with SRod ? I don’t think Amuso had anything to do with the fact that Maverick is better than Sam. I dont think Joe being younger or having a different disposition or teaching him some ‘new/modern’ techniques would change the outcomes.
A State Champ is not “coached” by just one coach. All of the Section One State Champs in the previous two years and probably well before that, had high school coaches, club coaches and private coaches all training the athlete. To say one coach made them a State champ does a dis-service to all the “coaches” that worked with the champs to help them win a championship. I think if you asked any of the Section One coaches who coached a state champ, they would agree with me.
wrestling fan: You’ll certainly get agreement that the champs typically have multiple coaches (HS, club, private). Also, as the previous post points out, the best coaches can only do so much … ultimately it’s up to the wrestler to have that unique combination of ability, commitment, and grit that it takes to be a champion.
in the end, it’s the wrestler who’s either committed to winning or not;that said the coach who can motivate, inspire a wrestler to win regardless of circumstances is the coach of the year;amuso got an honorary coach of year plague to post somewhere among his 41 years of whatever…
another coach who is still active and had a State Champ is tompkins from Sleepy hollow. Also coached him entire career. probably a couple others.
I forgot coach tompkins. Garcia was a 1 or 2 time champ?
i was told some surprises w/awards 4 division one wrestlers waiting in wings
Congratulations Coach Amuso on your retirement from your NYS Hall of Fame career.
Coach of the year – Peter Dene, Tappan Zee = IDEAL & EFFECTIVE CHOICE=MODEL 4 ALL WRESTLING TEAMS AS A COACH!!!
Great guy and a very solid coach. TZ is having an awesome renaissance in all of there sports programs. Great choice to be recognized!