Joe Pistone is serving in his thirteenth season as Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Southern Maine. Coach Pistone has worked diligently to push the USM Huskies among the nation's elite, athletically and academically, since his arrival to Maine in 2003.
In his tenure, Pistone has vaulted USM wrestling into regional prominence and made the Huskies viable on the national scene, guiding nine grapplers to the NCAA National Championship Tournament crowning (3) NCAA All Americans, (12) NCAA Scholar All Americans and (8) NCAA Division III New England/Northeast Regional Champions. (39) USM wrestlers have earned NCAA All-New England and NCAA All Northeast Regional status under Pistone. The 2014-15 USM Wrestling squad recorded a program best, 16 dual meet wins as Pistone recorded his 100th career dual meet victory against Norwich University. In his 16th year as a Head Wrestling Coach, Pistone's overall career coaching record stands at 143-118-2.
Under Pistone's guidance, USM's wrestlers have been recognized for their work in the classroom, crowning (12) NCAA Division III Scholar All Americans, (35) USM William B. Wise recipients and (10) Pilgrim League Scholar Athlete award winners. During the 2014-15' season, USM's Daniel Del Gallo earned the NCAA's most prestigious academic award, the Elite 89 award, an award presented by the NCAA honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
Due to his dedication and involvement, Pistone served as the Vice President of the NCAA New England Wrestling Association from 2010-12 and as the President of the NCAA Division III New England Wrestling Association from 2012-14. Pistone currently serves as the Vice President of the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance (MAWA) Board of Directors and is the director of the annual Brawlin' Lobsta summer clinic series at USM.
Pistone is the founder of the North Atlantic Wrestling Championships, featuring all northern NCAA/NCWA New England collegiate Wrestling programs and the annual USM Ted Reese Collegiate Invitational, named in honor USM's first Head Wrestling Coach, Dr. Theodore Reese.
Pistone came to USM from Rhode Island where he served as head wrestling coach at Johnston High School. His 2003 team were the Rhode Island State Champions, compiling a 16-0 team record. He was the Head Wrestling Coach for the Rhode Island Junior National Freestyle and Greco Roman Wrestling Team and co-head coach for the New England All-Star Wrestling team from 2000 to 2003, coaching (16) Rhode Island State place finishers, (2) Rhode Island State and (2) New England Champions and a Asics Junior National Freestyle Champion. He was a nominee for Rhode Island Coach of the Year in 2003. Pistone also served as a volunteer Wrestling Coach at Johnson and Wales University (RI) from 2000-03'.
Pistone is a graduate of American International College where he participated in the 1998 NCAA National Wrestling Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, earning NCAA Division II All America honors. Pistone was a two-time NCAA Division II Eastern Regional place winner, compiling 120 collegiate victories, including 40 by pin and has held several school records at American International College. He captained the Yellow Jacket wrestling squad was twice team captain and received A.I.C's Most Valuable Wrestler award in 1998. Pistone also participated in the 1996 United States Olympic Regional Trials.
Pistone, a New York native, resides in South Portland and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
