John Sacchi graduated from Ithaca College in 1966 and almost immediately began to work as a college coach, first at Middlesex County College and then Rutgers University. After 40 years of coaching he has amassed an incredible career record of 447-162-9.

Coaching for 24 years at Middlesex County College, John’s energy, knowledge, and skill came to the fore as he developed an enviable record of 280-59-4 making him the second all-time winning junior college coach in the nation. His Middlesex teams were undefeated three times: in 1970, 1986 and 1990. In total, Middlesex teams won 38 tournament championships including nine Mid-Atlantic JUCO Wrestling titles, 12 Garden State JUCO conference championships and eight second place finishes. During his coaching tenure Middlesex County College ranked in the top 20 polls for 17 years. In the process his wrestlers won some 160 individual championships with five national champions and 39 Junior College All–Americans.

Following his experiences at Middlesex, John moved on to Rutgers University where for 17 years he again enjoyed success posting a record of 167-102-5. In his second year at the helm, his team established a school record of 17 dual meet wins finishing at 17-4-1. In the 2001-02 season John joined a select group of only 16 college level coaches when he won his 400th dual meet. Each year in the highly competitive Division I level his wrestlers represented Rutgers at the NCAA Championships producing 62 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling place winners. Two seasons ago, Andy Roy competed in his fourth straight NCAA Championship an accomplishment that had never been achieved before in the program’s history. In recognition of John’s coaching success, he received many awards most notably the 1986 National Junior College Athletic Association “Wrestling Man of the Year” and in 2004 the Eastern Intercollegiate Coach of the Year. Personally, John is delighted to see so many of his wrestlers now coaching, and he takes joy in knowing that he has helped promote the great sport of wrestling.