Sam Coursen

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At Forty Fort High School, Sam was a four-year varsity wrestler, a four-time District champion and State finalist. He was the only four-year varsity wrestler to never lose a match in Wyoming Valley. Sam went on to Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he became four-time New England wrestling champion, winning numerous open tournaments and in 1952 was voted “Outstanding New England wrestler.” He was a member of the 1952 Olympic Team in Helsinki, Finland. From 1953-56, he taught in Bristol Twp., PA, doing volunteer coaching to keep his amateur standing. In 1956 he became assistant wrestling coach and from 1957-1971 was head wrestling and cross country coach. His varsity wrestling record was 135-34-7, with eight conference and six District titles. He coached four undefeated teams and two State championship teams. From 1971-1981, he was junior high wrestling coach at Collingwood Junior High School. Sam served on the State Executive Committee 18 years and was the first chairman of Region 7. He was cofounder of Region 7 & 8 Coaches and Officials Association and cofounder and first chairman of the South Jersey wrestling Hall of Fame. He cofounded the Collingswood Hall of Fame (1990). He has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame: PA Wrestling 1977, Springfield College 1986, New Jersey Coaches 1988, South Jersey wrestling 1988, Collingswood Athletic 1996, and the New Jersey chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame 2001. He is presently on the Executive Committees of the South Hersey, Collingswood and NJ Chapter of the National Wrestling Halls of Fame. Sam currently resides in the Stroudsburg area.