Hall of Fame induction: 2016
Joe attended Salesianum H.S. & Villanova University in the mid 1970’s. Joe was a 2 time individual state champion in the mile, 1 time individual state champion in the 2 mile, and was part of a 2 mile relay state championship team while at Salesianum.
He was a walk on at Villanova during a time period when Villanova dominated most middle distance events in the IC4A’s and NCAA championships. The high light of his collegiate career was a 6th place finish in the 1974 National Junior Cross Country Championships (under 20 yrs. old) won by Villanova . He graduated Magna Cum Laude with his BS in Accounting in 1977.
After graduation while working full-time, he then donated many hours to the Delaware Sports Club, leading the Monday and Thursday evening workouts at Tower Hill, Saturday long runs through the Valley from Mt Lebanon Church, and the famous tag games at Brandywine Creek Park on Sunday mornings. He oversaw these sessions between 1979 and 1992 before his professional career took him to York, PA. These workouts were attended by high school, collegiate, and post collegiate runners of all talent levels. He was also the Meet Director of the Salesianum XC Invitational from 1975 to 1992.
During the 1980’s, Joe coached Sandy Gibney to an individual NCAA XC qualifying berth while at the U of D and Denise Marini to a National Junior Olympic Championship in the 3000 meters, as well as coaching many high school individual state champions and state record holders in the distance events.
During this era, high school coaches had much less “out of season” contact with their runners, and this is when Joe worked with the young athletes. He assisted runners from many different high schools. Many of these athletes were each other’s fiercest competition, yet also the best of friends. This is because Joe fostered a respect for each and every person who stepped to the starting line.
Joe also mentored Vicki Huber throughout her years at Villanova and helped her to achieve the eight NCAA titles that she won, as well as her time at the Olympics. Vicki credits much of her success as a runner to Joe.