Joe Nisivoccia was appointed to the position of assistant women's wrestling coach in January of 2022 at New Jersey City University. He joins the Gothic Knights with over four decades of wrestling experience, both as a coach and grappler.
AÂ Hall of Famer with both the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association (NJWCA) in 1992 and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) in 2000, Nisivoccia coached all over the state for nearly 40 years. He previously served as the head wrestling coach at Metuchen High School and Belleville High School, and was also an assistant coach for his alma mater J.P. Stevens High School, Belleville and Westfield High School. He was named NJ State Coach of the Year by the NIWCA in 1987 and again by the Star Ledger in 1995. In 2001 the National Federation Coaches Association named him Wrestling Coach of the Year. Overall, he amassed 410 career wins as a high school wrestling coach in the state of New Jersey.
As a wrestler himself, Nisivoccia competed for J.P. Stevens and was a standout lightweight grappler. He was the NJ Federation State Champion in 1970 and 1971. Also in 1971, he finished as the NJSIAA State runner-up at 106 pounds before winning the NJSIAA State Championship at 115 pounds in 1972. He went on to wrestle at Rutgers University and, as a senior in 1976, served as team captain for the Scarlet Knights.
Nisivoccia graduated in 1976 from Rutgers with a degree in health and physical education. He went on to earn Masters degrees in Philosophy and Religion, as well as Supervision and Administration. He also earned his Educational Doctorate degree in Child Studies. Nisivoccia served for 36 years as a health and physical education teacher throughout the majority of his coaching career.
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