Hall of Fame
Sosa spent his entire professional career at SUNY Oneonta as the wrestling coach, administrator and instructor in the physical education program. He joined the college in 1966 and is still currently teaching at Oneonta as an adjunct professor. He officially retired as the head wrestling coach in 2004.
Sosa’s professional accolades are numerous with coaching and administration. At the time of his retirement, he was the second longest tenured wrestling coach in the country. He coached the Red Dragons for 38 seasons and during his tenure he had 17 winning seasons and coached 12 All-Americans, 12 Scholar All-Americans and 77 All-State wrestlers.
In 2001, Sosa was inducted into the NCAA Div. III Coaches Hall of Fame and, in 2004 he was inducted into the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was inducted in the New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Service Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling. In 2010, he was the recipient of the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Award, which is the highest award given by the SUNYAC to a retiring administrator or coach.
Sosa was instrumental in developing the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference after the SUNYAC stopped sponsoring the sport. The conference was immediately recognized by the NCAA and given status as an NCAA qualifying tournament for the Division III national championship. The uniqueness of the conference was in its composition of private and public institutions.
Sosa’s contributions weren’t limited to the college. Sosa has been involved in many community endeavors throughout his residency in the city of Oneonta. His most visible endeavor has been his involvement in the “Pit Run,” which is a 10K road race held every October in memory of police officer Ricky Parisian, who died in the line of duty. Sosa and his wrestling team raised more than $20,000 during his tenure.
An avid mountain biker, Sosa has been instrumental in developing and maintaining a trail system in the Oneonta area. In 2011, he was honored for his activism as the recipient of the Otsego County Conservation Association’s Conservationist of the Year Award. Sosa still serves on various local committees and was the organizer of the Oneonta Community Mountain Biking Club.
The father of four highly successful student athletes at Oneonta High School, Sosa also found time as a youth soccer coach for 15 years while also being a travel team coach.
