More than 150 family members, friends, former athletes, wrestling officials, and school administrators from across the region gathered Saturday at North Schuylkill High School to honor the life and legacy of Joseph “Joe” Cesari, the iconic coach whose influence shaped generations of student-athletes.
The memorial service, held in the high school auditorium, reflected both the magnitude of Cesari’s accomplishments and the deep personal bonds he forged during nearly three decades as the architect of one of Pennsylvania’s most successful wrestling programs. A reception followed in the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium, which proudly bears his name.
Cesari passed away on October 3, 2025.
A Community Says Goodbye
Saturday’s service included remarks from family members as well as two of Cesari’s former wrestlers, Rick Edwards and Tom Dando, both of whom went on to become coaches under the man they described as a mentor, teacher, and father figure.
The program served as both a remembrance and a celebration of a coach who not only built champions but shaped lives.
Rick Edwards, who wrestled for Cesari before serving as his assistant coach for 14 years and later succeeding him as head coach, shared emotional stories about the early days of the program.
He recalled being a 7th-grader weighing just 83 pounds when Cesari arrived in Ashland in the early 1960s with a vision to introduce a new sport to a town that barely knew wrestling existed.
“Joe didn’t just start a varsity program,” Edwards said. “He built it from the ground up.”
Edwards spoke of improvised practice rooms, makeshift mats hung over radiators, and a young program slowly becoming a powerhouse. He credited Cesari’s relentless commitment — studying the sport, attending clinics, investing countless hours — for transforming a group of local kids into state contenders.
When Edwards later took over as head coach, he remembered critics warning him not to accept the job after a state-championship team had graduated 10 seniors. But he pushed forward.
“That came from Joe,” Edwards said. “That drive, that belief — it wasn’t mine. It was his.”
Edwards highlighted the coaching legacy Cesari sparked, noting that former North Schuylkill coaches and assistants have gone on to earn statewide recognition, all tracing their roots back to Cesari’s influence.
Former wrestler and longtime assistant coach Tom Dando shared stories that blended humor, humility, and heartfelt gratitude.
He recalled meeting Cesari as a high school senior on the football team. After critiquing his play following a game, Cesari repeatedly asked him to try wrestling — week after week — until Dando finally gave in.
“That was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life,” he said.
Dando described being introduced to the toughest practices he had ever experienced. “I never had a day in basic training, infantry training, or airborne school that was harder than one wrestling practice under Joe Cesari,” he told the crowd.
He also shared lighthearted memories: sneaking into state tournaments using homemade “press passes,” staying at bare-bones motels while other teams booked luxury hotels, and late-night runs to find food — moments that, in hindsight, reflected Cesari’s insistence on removing distractions and keeping athletes focused.
But the heart of his message was about Cesari’s character.
“He created an environment where everyone knew there was only one answer: work hard,” Dando said. “That’s how dynasties are built.”
He added that Cesari never held grudges and always started fresh with his wrestlers — a lesson that shaped Dando as a coach, teacher, and grandfather.
“Coach Cesari didn’t need to scramble for a ticket into heaven,” Dando said in closing. “His performance as a husband, father, teacher, and coach gave him a free pass.”
A Legacy That Will Live On
Joe Cesari’s career from 1962 to 1989 produced:
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357 wins,
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19 league championships,
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8 District 11 titles,
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5 regional crowns, and
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2 PIAA state team championships (1983 and 1989).
His 91.8% career winning percentage remains the highest in PIAA wrestling history. He coached 10 individual state champions — including his sons Joe Jr., Mark, and Steve — and earned national recognition with a four-page Sports Illustrated feature in 1989.
Beyond the numbers, speakers emphasized that Cesari’s true impact lived in the discipline he taught, the standards he set, and the lives he touched.
A Final Tribute
As attendees filled the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium after the service, many gathered around displays of championship teams, trophies, and photos — reminders of a man whose commitment shaped a community.
For North Schuylkill, Joe Cesari was more than a coach.
He was the foundation of a program, the architect of a dynasty, and a guiding force for the hundreds of young athletes whose lives he changed.
His legacy — as coaches, wrestlers, and families said Saturday — will live on for generations.
