Earl Hoffman was one of the pioneers of wrestling in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area and his more than 35 years of giving to the sport of wrestling as a coach, official and contributor is the reason for his receiving the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award.
After graduating from West Chester State Teachers College in 1952, Earl was drafted by the Army, but enlisted in the United States Marine Corps instead. He coached at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in 1953 and the following year at Cherry Point, North Carolina, compiling a combined record of 33-4. After serving his country he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.

In 1955, he began his public school teaching and coaching career in Mechanicsburg. The school did not have wrestling but wanted Mr. Hoffman to start a team. He did, and in his first year went 5-4 with kids who had never seen a match prior to his arrival. Over the next seven years, the Wildcats went 80-1, including a 45-match streak that included a victory over the national prep school champions.

In 1975, he coached his son to a National AAU High School Freestyle gold medal over an eventual Olympic Champion, and wound down his career as assistant coach at Messiah College where he helped coach that team to a National Christian College Team Championship.

Earl decided to become an official in 1956 and worked novice tournaments at the Harrisburg YMCA and Carlisle YMCA in Pennsylvania. He initiated new programs to establish wrestling as well as gave clinics. He was one of the leaders promoting high school wrestling in the Harrisburg area.

In 1964 he left Mechanicsburg to start wrestling at Redland High School, and in four years he led the team to a 14-14 record. His exit from Red land did not last long, as in 1976 he became Assistant Coach for the National Christian Athletes.