Introduction:

 

Joseph Wendel is the founding father and first coach of Cuyahoga Falls High School soccer. A native of Austria, Coach Wendel was a German teacher at CFHS when he was asked to lead the Black Tigers. In 1965 high school soccer was not very popular. Coach stated that in a school of several thousand students about 150 showed up for the first soccer meeting and when it was all said and done 65 decided to play making up our first JV and varsity teams.  In 1965 there were not many public schools that played soccer, so the Black Tigers had to schedule private schools and wealthier public schools throughout northeast Ohio. Also note: at this time there was no conference play, no league or state recognition, nothing other then 65 young men and a visionary coach who enjoyed playing the beautiful game. Today there are over 600 Ohio schools playing soccer, but we were one of the first thanks to Coach Wendel.

 

CFHS Awards/Accomplishments:

 

Head coach: From the fall of 1965 through the 1970 season.

 

Compiled an impressive record of 57-17-10 in his five seasons at the helm.

 

His 1965 inaugural team has the school record for least goals given up in a season at five for a 0.6 Goals Against Avg.

 

Post CFHS:

 

Coach Wendel left the sidelines to pursue another passion of his…radio. A group of English investors brought to Cleveland a professional soccer team called the Stokers as they were affiliated with Stoke City. Joe’s radio career began as the voice of the Cleveland Stokers broadcasting the soccer games on WXEN for two years before the team folded. Today he continues to work with NPR affiliated radio stations today discussing German-American culture and music every Saturday and Sunday. Coach is also an exceptional musician playing the accordion and fronting the Joe Wendel Orchestra, which has played in Europe, the Caribbean, Las Vegas and Atlantic City just to name a few.

 

Conclusion:

 

Dr. Wendel currently lives in Euclid and has 3 children, and 3 grandchildren.