Joseph Costello

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Coach Costello’s legendary coaching career began in 1970 when he created and developed the Pittston
Area Track and Field program. He built the program with excellent coaching skills and a strong feeder
system as hundreds of students participated in the track and field program under his leadership.
Coach Costello’s Patriots dominated track and field in Northeastern Pennsylvania with what came to be
known as the beginning of 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
Jordan Relay Titles, prevailing over District II with District records and State medals. Many of the records
that epitomize the Golden Age of Pittston Area Track and Field still exist today in PIAA District II.
In May of 1983, Coach Costello was named the first ever Wyoming Valley Conference Track Coach of the
Year by the Wilkes Barre Times Leader. Later that year, he retired from coaching to become the well-
respected Assistant Principal of Pittston Area High School in 1984. In 1994, he became the very popular
and highly regarded Principal of Pittston Area High School carrying out his tenure until his retirement in
1998.
Coach Costello was a student athlete at West Pttston High School (1957-1961) excelling in football and
track and field. He was a two-time PIAA District II champion in the shot put (1960-1961). He went on to
the University of Scranton where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Education
along with Elementary and Secondary Administration certifications. In 1965, he began his career in
Education as a Spanish teacher in the Northeast School District which merged with Pittston City School
District to become Pittston Area School District.
Coach Costello resides with his wife Mary Ann. They are the proud parents of son, Dr. John Costello,
daughter, Maria Costello, and daughter in law Nicol Costello. Today, Joe and Mary Ann enjoy their family
especially their fantastic grandsons; Michael, Joseph and Nicholas.