Al Sosa (Oneonta)

Courtesy of Oneonta Athletics

1962 - Graduated Babylon HS: played football, wrestling, cross-country and
track
1962-1966 - SUNY Cortland: wrestling, football, and lacrosse
1966 (?) - SUNY Oneonta: tenure track instructor in PE and wrestling coach
1966-2004: Head Wrestling Coach (second longest term in country). Finished
with a 284-301-5 record. Had 17 winning seasons and coached 12
All-Americans, 12 scholar All-Americans, and 77 All-State wrestlers.
Resigned to be PE Chair.
1979-1988: Director of Men¹s Athletics
1989-1994: Director of Athletics
-       Dropped men¹s gymnastics and added lacrosse
-       Organized Empire Lacrosse League since SUNY did not sponsor lacrosse.
This ran until Oneonta was able to join SUNYAC in lacrosse
-       Elevated women¹s sport funding (and in early 80¹s promoted movement of
women¹s sports from AIAW to SUNYAC, and hosted the first women¹s SUNYAC
tournament ­ Joan Kingsley¹s Cross County team
-       Promoted movement of athletics from Student Association to a Faculty
Board
-       Served on numerous conference committees, hosted many SUNYAC, ECAC and
NCAA tournaments
1994-2010: Chair of PHED
-       Cooperated with other academic departments to create minors to enhance
the department¹s offerings, support the philosophy of lifelong learning,
and provide recruitment tools for Athletics as well as multiple majors
(Sports Management, Outdoor Education, Dance, Health and Wellness, and
Personal Training)
-       Oversaw the creation and offering of a multitude of new PHED courses
-       Increased academic rigor in PHED offerings, resulting in the removal of
PHED activity credit attributes from many courses
-       Increased athletic club presence: Equestrian Club, Skiing and
Snowboarding Club, Mountain Biking Club
Started traditions/community involvement:
-       Alumni Wrestling Matches (1971 to present)
-       Red Dragon Wrestling Club (1986 - ???) 6 week wrestling camp/tournament
for area elementary and high school students
-       Wrestling Team running in the Pit Run, developing a positive town-gown
relationship (1994 to present)
-       Wrestlers participating in Into the Street (esp. Oneonta Greenway Trail)

Early 1970¹s ­ with Jim Baker ­ started men¹s lacrosse club

Served on the NCAA Division III seeding committee and the NCAA D-III poll
committee. A three-term president and 15-year executive secretary for the
New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Association, Sosa helped
organize the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference. The ECWC Tournament
is an NCAA qualifier.

Sosa also is a member of the NCAA D-III Coaches Hall of Fame (2001) and
the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (2004).

2008 - Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's NY chapter with
the Lifetime Service Award. The award "is given in recognition of years of
dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young
people through the sport of wrestling."

2010 ­ recipient of the Commissioner¹s Award ­ highest award given by
SUNYAC to a retiring administrator or coach

2011 - recipient of the Otsego County Conservation Association's 2011
Conservationist of the Year award. He was recognized for his dedication to
bicycle and pedestrian trail building and maintenance, as well as for his
leadership role in the fostering of natural resource appreciation and
stewardship.

Community Service ­
-       Soccer Coach for fall youth rec (1984-1998)
-       Soccer coach for girls¹ spring/summer select travel team (1986-2000)
-       Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway Committee (1999-present)
-       Organizer of Oneonta Community Mountain Biking Club ~120 members
(2000-present)