August 14, 2002
Another stop along the road for Joe Fussner
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Wherever Joe Fussner goes, success seems to follow.
As a girls basketball coach at Atlantic City High School in the 1970s and 1980s, Fussner compiled an
amazing 167-18 record. His teams won four straight South Jersey championships and a pair of state titles.
Then, Fussner became the Vikings’ boys basketball coach. His teams were 144-24, another incredible
record. They dominated the Cape-Atlantic League and won the championship of the prestigious Seagull
Classic. Only great teams at Camden and Shawnee prevented them from winning South Jersey titles.
Now the head womens basketball coach at Richard Stockton College, Fussner has a 155-104 record with
the Ospreys, including New Jersey Athletic Conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances
and Coach of the Year awards.
For the next two weeks, however, Fussner, also known for his pancakes, is not focusing on basketball. He
is fulfilling a longtime dream, umpiring in the Little League World Series in Williamsport.
Over the past two decades, Fussner and various family members have regularly traveled to Williamsport to
see the classic tournament. A veteran high school baseball and softball umpire, Fussner always had a
goal of getting to work in the World Series.
This has been quite a year for Little League in our area. Earlier this year ceremonies were held to
recognize the 50th anniversary of Hammonton’s championship in the Little League World Series. Among
the players on that team was Nuncie Sacco, former basketball coach and athletic director at Mainland
who is now an accomplished fisherman.
Beginning this weekend, you’ll be able to watch Fussner work behind the plate and on the bases as
ESPN and ESPN2 cover the Little League World Series. He’ll be faced with crazed fans, pressure-filled
situations and instant replays.
But Joe Fussner will not be fazed by the National spotlight. The Little League World Series is just one
more stop down his road of success.
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