Former Rutgers wrestling coach John Sacchi spent 41 years mentoring at the mat, splitting time between Middlesex County College and Rutgers.
In his illustrious career Sacchi achieved a 447-162-9 record, including 167 wins in his 17 years with the Scarlet Knights.
But five months after announcing his retirement from the sport, the 67-year-old Sacchi said he still hasn't had time to fully reflect on his four decades worth of accomplishments.
"One of my concerns at the time [of retirement] is that I would be bored," Sacchi said. "But I've been far from bored. I've found so many things to do that I really haven't had time to reflect back."
After leaving the Banks at the end of last semester, Sacchi accepted a part-time job at Middlesex teaching health education, something he had done during 33 years of his coaching career.
"It just came to the point where I just wanted a little more time to myself," he said. "After 40 years of coaching and 33 years of teaching, it was time to kick back a little bit."
Sacchi has enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time at home and with his family in Edison, while maintaining a part-time job to continue to help students progress.
"I still wanted to stay involved with young people in a positive way, and being able to teach part-time gives me the time to do that, as well as time to do some of the things I've been putting off around the house."
The former Knights coach has also taken up fishing during his free hours with a co-worker at MCC, an activity Sacchi said was difficult to find time for during his tenure at RU.
"I tried to fish as much as possible, because it's good for your mental health and for handling stress," he said.
Sacchi said he hasn't yet missed the daily task of running a Division I college wrestling program, though he figures to become somewhat nostalgic for competition and success.
"At this time of the year I would be in the office at 8:30 or 9 a.m. and I wouldn't get home until 8:30 p.m.," he said. "That's a long day, and it started to wear on me, so I don't miss that part at all.
"I'm going to miss the excitement of competition - being at mat side where the action is - I'm going to miss that. All the other things, with the travel, the long road trips, the recruiting trips and the long office hours, I don't miss that yet and I don't think I will."
Sacchi said he will continue to follow the Rutgers wrestling team - now coached by three-time New Jersey State Coach of the Year Scott Goodale - and keep an eye on the development of his recruits.
And while he hasn't yet found the time to look back on his four-decades of coaching, he recalls one of his proudest accomplishments remains when he helped mentor senior Tom Tanis to All-American status in 2002.
"He beat Damion Hahn [of Minnesota], who was another New Jersey standout," he said. "Damion was a three-time state champion, and The Star-Ledger named him Wrestler of the Century."
Sacchi's most recent accolade was his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. last month, along with being named an honorary lifetime member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
"I was very fortunate to have gotten [the recognition] while I was still alive, because a lot of people do really nice things during their life and are not recognized until after they've passed," Sacchi said. "It was a great honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it was just a combined effort with the support of the number of great young men that I've had the opportunity to coach, and they're the ones who put me in there."
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