” … An outstanding athlete in high school and in college,” according to eriesportshalloffame.org, ” … he really made his mark as a coach.”

From 1989 until he retired in 2010, Sanford was the McDowell girls and boys track and field head coach.

“In those 20 years, the girls’ team won the Metro League or Region 5 championship 20 times and 17 District 10 titles,” according to the Erie Sports Hall of Fame. “The girls team also won three PIAA state championships, placed second four times and third once. The boys team won 17 Metro League or Region 5 championships and 14 District 10 titles. The boys team also won the PTFCA indoor State Championship and the PIAA State Outdoor Championship in 2007. Sanford’s program … produced 36 individual state champions, 200 state medalists, eight state records, eight national champions, 50 All-Americans and one national record. He was honored as the PTFCA state track and field coach of the year five times. He was also named the U.S. Northeast Region Coach of the year and was finalist for National coach of the year in 2007. Previously, Sanford coached the Corry girls and boys track and field teams from 1976-84 and compiled a 50-12 record with 10 state medal winners.

“He was the Corry head football coach from 1975-83, won two Erie County League championships, one District 10 championship and was the ECL coach of the year and PSFCA district coach of the year twice. He was the McDowell head football coach from 1984-89, won one Metro League championship and was … coach of the year once. He was head football coach at Seneca High School from 1994-95. He also served as an assistant football coach at Edinboro University, Mercyhurst College, Conneaut High School, Union City High School and McDowell. He played football, basketball and track and field at Conneaut High School where he earned first-team All-Conference honors as a senior in 1966. He was the most valuable player on the Iowa Wesleyan football team in 1968, the same year he was named to the All-Prairie College Conference Track and Field College Conference Track and Field team. As a quarterback at Edinboro, the Fighting Scots posted an 18-2 record in his two years at the helm. He was named first team All-State by the Collegiate Press Association once, first team PSAC twice, first team NAIA District 18 once, and All-American honorable mention once. He was one of the original inductees into the Edinboro University Hall of Fame in 1982.”

Submitted photo Warren’s Laney Gatto is pictured with coach Joe Sanford after winning the AA girls pole vault at the Altoona Mountain Lion Track & Field Classic.

Much like when he had grandchildren in McDowell’s track and field program, Sanford wanted to get involved in Warren’s track program for his grandchildren. His daughter Jinelle, son-in-law Dave, and grandchildren Leyton and Luci Salvatore reside in Warren.