William Voliva

He wrestled for his mentor at Piscataway High School, eventually replaced his mentor at Piscataway High School, and has now followed his mentor into the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Bill Voliva graduated from Piscataway in 1971 and went on to wrestle, and play football, at the University of Virginia. On the mat he reached the Atlantic Coast Conference finals three times and twice winning the title to move onto the NCAA Tournament. A two-time team captain, he immediately got into coaching as an assistant at UVA while getting his Master’s, then became head coach at Charlottesville High School two years.

He returned home to his alma mater to be an assistant for the 1976-77 season, and one year later began a 26-year run as head coach at PHS. His record was 246-153-5.

The Chiefs won two Middlesex County championships and 10 District titles. He coached 69 District champions, 13 Region champions and had 15 state place winners, including one finalist.

Voliva ran the District 19 Tournament at Piscataway numerous times, and helped run the Middlesex County Tournament and Greater Middlesex County Tournament for many years. He also ran wrestling clinics in town.

He was District Coach of the Year seven times and Region Coach of the Year twice. Voliva also coached football, and track and field at the high school.

Away from the gym he served two years as president of the Middlesex County Wrestling Coaches Association. While he was head coach he was also coordinator for Piscataway Recreation Wrestling.

Voliva went on to be a wresting official for 25 years.

As a high school wrestler Voliva was 52-7-2, and had an undefeated dual meet season while winning counties and districts, took second in the regions and placed in the states.

A health education teacher, he retired in 2005. Voliva resides in Lavallette with his wife Mary Ann. They have three children; Christine, Brian and Matthew, and six grandchildren.

Awards:

Year
2023
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
New Jersey

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