Former Mahwah Wrestling Coach McLaughlin Joins Hall Of Fame

MAHWAH, NJ — Former Mahwah High School wrestling coach Harry McLaughlin added another honor to his already storied legacy when he was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

During a virtual ceremony Sunday, McLaughlin and 32 others were honored for their storied careers in New Jersey athletics.

During his 15-year career as the Mahwah High School wrestling coach, McLaughlin acquired a record of 142-70.

This isn't the first hall of fame he's been inducted into, either, having already joined the Mahwah High School Hall of Fame, as well as the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame as an assistant coach.

The New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association began honoring coaches in 1961, when they did so for all football coaches with undefeated seasons.

A Hall of Fame wasn't established officially until 1983, when the award program shifted to include the title. In 1995 the NJSCA took over the sponsorship of the hall of fame.

"When you consider that there are 434 public, non-public and independent secondary schools in New Jersey for the 2020-2021 school year, sponsoring approximately 7,500 varsity teams, requiring that number of head coaches – then it has to be a distinct honor to have been selected by your peers for membership in the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association "Hall of Fame,'" said NJSCA officials.