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Joe Corso

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Joe Corso
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Marion Corso
NationalityAmerican
Born (1951-12-22) December 22, 1951 (age 72)
Turin, Italy
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight126 lb (57 kg)
Sport
SportWrestling
EventFreestyle
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1979 San Juan 57 kg

Joseph Marion "Joe" Corso (born December 22, 1951) is an American wrestler and coach. He competed in the men's freestyle 57 kg at the 1976 Summer Olympics[1], and was USA Women's Wrestling's first coach.

Early life

Born in Turin, Italy, December 22, 1951, Joe was raised by the Nuns of Turin Catholic Charities before being adopted at the age of 5 by Joe and Hazel Corso, owners of an Italian restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa. At the time of his arrival in the United States he spoke only Italian.

Wrestling Career

Being of small physical stature, his athletic opportunities were limited, however under the tutelage of Coach Larry Bock he placed 2nd in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament[2] in 1970 and became the #112 State Champion for Valley West Des Moines’ in 1971, its first State Champion since 1936.

What followed was a steady climb which saw Joe excel at the Collegiate, National and International level. During his active years, Joe won 6 National Freestyle Wrestling Championships and numerous international titles while also pursuing a career in coaching. He also was a member of the 1976 Freestyle Olympic Wrestling Team.

Representing the  United States
Year Competition Venue Position Notes
1976 Wrestling Bantamweight, Freestyle Montreal, Canada 8, 0 57kg
1980 Moscow, Russia Boycotted, 57kg
1984 Los Angelos, CA. USA 2nd Alternate, 57kg

Coaching Career

During the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s, Joe Corso made significant contributions to the world of wrestling as a coach, particularly in the development of women’s wrestling. Despite facing incredible adversity and challenges, Corso played a pivotal role in keeping women’s wrestling alive during that time.

One of his most notable achievements was coaching the first women’s wrestling team. Corso’s unwavering dedication and support for women in wrestling earned him immense respect from athletes and industry professionals alike.

According to Tricia Saunders, a World Champion, National Hall Of Fame Inductee, and National Hall Of Fame Board Member, Joe Corso was a commanding presence and driving force behind the continued growth of women’s wrestling. Saunders stated, “Joe was the one constant….the guy who was always there.”

Corso’s efforts in promoting women’s wrestling and insuring its survival during a challenging era have been recognized by the wrestling community. He is currently being recommended for induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (NWHOF). This recognition reflects Corso’s significant impact and achievements within the wrestling community.

Past Coaching Positions

  • 1978-80 - Asst. wrestling coach University of Minnesota
  • 1981-84 - Asst. wrestling coach Indiana University
  • 1984-2005 - Sunkist Kids Freestyle coach
  • 1991-93 - Brophy College Preparatory H.S. coach
  • 2005-2012 - Gator Woman’s Wrestling Club coach
  • 2005-2007 - Brother Martin H.S. Coach, N.O. Louisiana
- 2005 - 3rd in State
- 2006 - 2nd in State
- 2007 - 1st in State
  • 2012 - Present - Women’s & Men’s Freestyle coach Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
  • Wrestled/Coached as either head or assistant of seven senior women’s world teams

Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame

In 2019, Joseph Marion "Joe" Corso was honored for his exceptional contributions to the sport of wrestling by being inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame[3]. This prestigious recognition reflects Corso's significant impact and achievements within the wrestling community.

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of wrestling in the state of Iowa. Joe Corso's induction into this esteemed institution highlights his remarkable career and dedication to the sport.

For further details about Joe Corso's records and achievements, you can refer to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame's official website at [1].

Honors and awards

  • 1971 - Iowa HS State Champion (AAA) 112 lbs
  • 1975 - NCAA Bronze Medalist 126 lbs
  • 1975 - Big Ten Champion 126 lbs
  • 1975 - Big Ten Outstanding Wrestler Award
  • 1976 - USA Olympic Team Member, Montreal, Canada
  • 1979 - Pan American Gold Medal 125.5 lbs
  • 1979 - World championships, bronze medalist 125.5 lbs
  • 1984 - 2nd alternate, USA Olympic Team
  • 1991 - FILA Veteran’s World Champion, Cali, Columbia
  • 2002 - USA Women's Coach of the Year
  • 2006 - USA Women's Coach of the Year
  • 2019 - Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Joe Corso". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  2. ^ Iowa High School Athletic Association. "Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame". IHSAA. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Joe Corso 2019 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee". Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 30, 2023.

External links


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