About Inductee

Joe Dasaro of Huntsville, ranks among the "best of the best" in a city known for years as the epicenter of high school wrestling in the State of Alabama. A former football player and wrestler at Grissom High School, Dasaro later returned to his Alma Mater as a teacher and coach following graduation from Auburn University. He has been Grissom's Wrestling Coach for 27 years, during which time the Tigers have won seven State Championships: 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002 and 2004. Beginning in 1984, Daraso's teams have won the City Championship every year except for four years, and the Sectional Championship every year except six years. In addition to its seven state titles, Grissom has been state runner-up five times: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Over the same period, Dasaro has been named City Coach of the Year 16 times and Alabama's Coach of the Year six times. He was also honored as State Man of the Year in 1997, and the National Federation of High Schools' Southern Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000. When he's not teaching, coaching or spending time with his family, Dasaro works as a volunteer for such organizations as Special Olympics, the Alabama Sports Festival, Huntsville Hospital Angels, Senior Citizens of Huntsville, Kids to Love Foundation, Toys for Tots, Bikes or Bust with WZYP, and CASA Senior Christmas. He also conducts a summer youth camp in conjunction with the Huntsville Police Department. Dasaro credits two of his high school coaches, former Grissom Athletic Director Larrie Robinson and Steve Root, as the most influential people in his athletic career. "They both had a great love of sports," Dasaro said. "My first taste of this came as a high school football player under Coach Robinson. He taught me mental toughness but never to quit, and to see all your projects through to the end, no matter the obstacles. Steve Root was the wrestling coach when I came along. He took me under his wings_and a few awnings_and showed me the ropes to wrestling. He showed me that you can coach wrestling and teach life lessons, all at the same time. What I got from these two men will stay with me forever." Dasaro and his wife Beth have three children: Katie, Stephen, and Maddie.