Schools
New Nazareth School Sports Director Appointed
The school board has appointed Joseph Silimperi, a 1984 Nazareth grad and the district's wrestling announcer, as the new athletic director.
Written by Jack Tobias
The voice of Nazareth wrestling — and the heir to a family tradition — will now oversee all school district sports.
The school board has appointed Joseph Silimperi, a 1984 Nazareth grad and the district’s wrestling announcer, as the new athletic director.
He replaces Rosario “Rusty” Amato, who was approved Monday night as an assistant principal at the high school.
Silimperi didn’t waste any time getting to work. He started his new job Tuesday (July 23).
The new AD, whose appointment is effective for one year, will make $70,297 a year. That compares with the $93,517 that Amato – with more years of AD experience – was paid, according to superintendent Dennis Riker.
With his family looking on, Silimperi beamed as he accepted congratulations from board members and others attending the board meeting.
Silimperi has been a special education teacher in the district. He has left his teaching post at the Intermediate school to run Blue Eagles sports.
Riker said a new special ed teacher to replace Silimperi is expected to be hired in August.
The new AD said he previously coached wrestling and football in the Pocono Mountain school district.
Asked what goals he has for his new job, Silimperi replied, “continue what we’re doing … and enhance them any way we can.”
The Silimperi family has created a legacy when it comes to wrestling announcing. Joseph Silimperi said he took over the announcing duties from his father, Victor.
Father and son have a combined tenure of almost 30 years of Blue Eagles wrestling announcing, the son said, adding he’s not sure who will take over at the wrestling microphone for the upcoming season.
The Silimperi family has another wrestling connection – Brad Silimperi, Joe’s first cousin. Brad, now head wrestling coach at Council Rock South High School in the Bucks County community of Holland, won a state title as a Blue Eagles wrestler in the late 1980s.
And yes, Joe Silimperi wrestled for the Blue Eagles under another Nazareth legend – coach Ray Nunamaker. The coach retired in 1997 after 34 years of coaching high school wrestling in Pennsylvania, according to the website nazarethwrestling.com
As for Joe Silimperi’s education credentials, he has his bachelor’s from Bloomsburg University, his master’s from Lehigh University, and his administrative certificate from East Stroudsburg University.
This story was first reported by Nazareth Patch.com Sports Blogger Andy Weaver.
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