Class of 2009

Joe McCabe is a legend in the local wrestling community having coached for 50 years in Section II.

After graduating high school he was accepted to Springfield College in 1958. After his first year of college Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and severed for 5 years. After his discharge he returned to Springfield in the fall of 1964 to complete his studies in Physical Education and Health while also competing inter-collegially in football, track and wrestling.

After graduation in 1966 with his BS degree Joe took a teaching position at Schodack-Maple Hill School System. Joe began teaching physical education and coaching wrestling while also working on his masters degree in education at Albany which he received in 1970.

McCabe was athletic director for 14 years and coached varsity wrestling and started the football program at Maple Hill in 1970 which he also coached among other sports. Joe was named area Coach of the Year in 1972 and Teacher of the Year in 1988.

Joe was head wrestling coach for 34 years at Maple Hill, where he amassed over 350 wins and produced 20 Class D and 3 Section II Champs. Joe won 14 league wrestling championships. In 2009 Joe was elected to the Section II Wrestling Hall of Fame and in 2011 he was elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 2007 Maple Hill began holding a meet every year in his name; the Joe McCabe Invitational.

While teaching and coaching, McCabe also started a commercial cleaning business that he ran for 25 years.

After retiring from teaching, Joe ran for local political office and served as the Towns political leader.

Joe is married with three grown children and lives in Castleton, NY. Although retired, Joe still works as an assistant coach for the Columbia Blue Devil wrestling team.