Joe Costello inducted into Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame

Joe Costello, Pittston Area’s Legendary Track and Field Coach and retired High School Principal, was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, Aug. 8, during the Annual Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre.

Coach Costello’s legendary coaching career began in 1970 when he created and developed the Pittston Area Track and Field program, building the program with excellent coaching and a strong feeder program with hundreds of students participating in track and field under his leadership.

Coach Costello’s Patriots dominated track and field in Northeastern Pennsylvania with what became known as the “Golden Age of Pittston Area Track and Field” (1980 -1983). During this time, Coach Costello’s Patriots won an impressive 55 consecutive meets, four consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference League Championships, four consecutive PIAA District II Championships and four consecutive Jordan Relay Championships, prevailing over District II with District Records and State Medals.

Many of the records from the Golden Age of Pittston Area track and Field still exist today.

In May of 1983, Coach Costello was named the first ever Wyoming Valley Track and Field Conference Coach of the Year. Later that year, he retired to become the well-respected Assistant principal at Pittston Area High School, and in 1994 became the well-respected Principal of Pittston Area High School.

In addition to being inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, Coach Costello was awarded Proclamations from the State of Pennsylvania, the City of Pittston and the Pittston Area School District.