Joe Dietrich has been involved in every aspect of the sport of wrestling. First, as an athlete, then as a coach, next he officiated and finally he has been an administrator who has worked tirelessly to help wrestling grow throughout the state. Joe competed at Dundalk High School. He later attended and graduated from Salisbury State College where he played football wrestled and played lacrosse. His coach at Salisbury was the legendary Mike McGlinchey. Coach McGlinchey was to become the role model for Joe's career that has spanned nearly five decades.

Following his graduation from college, Joe moved from the eastern shore to the mountains of western Maryland and made a new home for himself at Smithsburg High School. He quickly established that program as one of the best in the state. During his tenure at Smithsburg, a small 1A high school, he has won 285 dual meets. The Leopards have won invitational, county and conference championships including a string of five consecutive titles in the very tough MVAL during the early 1990's.

His teams were state runner up in 1984, 1992, and 1993. They also earned a third place finish in 1991.Coach D, as he is known to most, has had wrestlers qualify for the state tournament every year since 1980. He has coached 41 individual region champs and 41 sate place finishers that have included his son's Kris and Mike. The Leopards have had 9 state champions and 2 three time state championship winners with Coach D at the helm. Joe has officiated for the Washington County Wrestling Officials Association and he has held the rank of RJI in USWA and AAU.

He was a co-founder of the Washington County Wrestling Club which provided year round wrestling opportunities for all age group wrestlers in the tri-state area for 15 years. Coach D was the head coach of the 1993 Cadet National Team that brought home the Maryland the first Cadet individual champions in Freestyle and Greco. For 24 of the last 28 years Joe has been the District 1 representative to the Maryland State Wrestling Committee.

Over the years he has been instrumental, as a sub-committee member, in the organization and implementation of the state Dual Meet Championships. He was a driving force in establishing wrestle-backs and adding fifth and sixth place winners at the state tournament.

Coach D has strived to make wrestling a family event. His dad, Ed was an ardent fan, his wife Chery! is the team photographer, his daughter Allison was a statistician through high school and his two sons have been on the mat since they could crawl. Both Kris and Mike have worked with their father as assistant coaches. Joe continues to coach both wrestling and lacrosse at Smithsburg High School. Joe has served wrestling with honor and hundreds of young people have benefited from his guidance and encouragement. He continues to teach the principals of self discipline, sacrifice, hard work and commitment. Joe Dietrich leads by example.