Joseph A. Cuozzo

Cuozzo was introduced to lacrosse at Cortland State, where he played two years as a midfielder, graduating in 1959. Upon graduation, Cuozzo played for the Suffolk Lacrosse Club from 1956-64, and officiated high school lacrosse from 1960-66 in Suffolk County.

In 1969, Cuozzo became the head coach of the fledgling lacrosse program at Ward Melville High School. From 1969-06, Cuozzo amassed a 699-73 record at Ward Melville, for a .905 winning percentage.

In 2007, he became head coach at Mount Sinai High School, coaching four years before retiring following the 2010 season. He finished his career with 747 wins and a winning percentage of .882.

Cuozzo was the first member of the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association's 400 Club for winning 400 or more games. As a head coach, his teams won eight state championships, 16 Long Island Championships, and 33 Suffolk County championships. Cuozzo was selected as the Suffolk County Coach of the Year ten times. In 1984, he received the New York State Coaches Association Honor Award. In 1987, he was elected to the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 1989, he received the Suffolk County Man of the Year Award and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Special Sports Coach of the Year Award. In 1990, the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Association chose Cuozzo as its Man of the Year.