Long Island lost a true legend on August 10, 2025, when beloved wrestling coach, mentor, and educator Albert “Al” Bevilacqua Jr. passed away at the age of 85.
Known to generations as “Big Al,” “Mr. Bev,” or simply “Coach,” his impact stretched far beyond the wrestling room, leaving a mark on athletes, students, and community members across decades.
The Coach Who Made Champions
Al Bevilacqua’s wrestling career began long before his first whistle as a coach.
As a scholarship athlete at New York University, he not only competed at the highest level but also became the first in his family to graduate from college.
It was there he met Catherine, a fellow athlete and the woman he would call his “Head Coach” for 61 years.
Together, they built a life rooted in family, discipline, and compassion.
By the early 1960s, Al was leading the wrestling program at Massapequa High School, guiding the Chiefs to their first county title in the 1970s.
He later coached at Hofstra University, mentored six Olympic champions, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
A Mentor To The Famous And The Unknown
To many, Al was the quiet force behind remarkable stories.
Jerry Seinfeld, once a Massapequa High student in his driver’s ed class, famously mentioned “Mr. Bevilacqua” in a 1994 episode of Seinfeld.
Actor Billy Baldwin, who considered him a “second father,” recalled philosophical talks that shaped his outlook on life.
Author and veteran Ron Kovic credited Al’s teachings with giving him the mental fortitude to survive life-altering injuries in Vietnam.
But Al’s mentorship wasn’t reserved for future celebrities.
When a young student named Jim O’Rourke lost his father, Coach Bevilacqua stepped in, offering the kind of guidance and stability that would shape O’Rourke’s future.
Fame never mattered to Al; every kid who walked into his wrestling room was worth his time and belief.
Beyond the Wrestling Room
Al’s influence extended to the national stage.
He was instrumental in a landmark Supreme Court ruling that allowed wrestling to separate from the AAU and become governed by USA Wrestling.
This achievement paved the way for other Olympic sports to follow.
He also co-founded Beat the Streets, a program that brought wrestling to inner-city youth and helped shape the sport worldwide.
A man of relentless energy, Al often juggled teaching with various wrestling-related businesses, always to promote the sport and its values.
His advocacy eventually brought wrestling to television through his son Chris’s creation of College Sports Television, now CBS Sports Network.
A Legacy Of Family And Faith
While his wrestling résumé is unparalleled, Al’s greatest pride was his family.
He and his wife, Catherine, raised six children, five of whom went on to own their own businesses, with the sixth earning a doctoral degree.
Their home in Massapequa was a hub of warmth, discipline, and gratitude, where extra kids were always welcome for dinner and church was never missed.
Al’s philosophy of “never giving up on a kid” lives on not only in his family but also in the countless students and athletes who carry his lessons into their own lives and communities.
Final Farewell And Lasting Impact
Two viewings for Al Bevilacqua will be held on August 13 at the Massapequa Funeral Home, followed by a Catholic Mass on August 14 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
Burial will take place at Amityville Cemetery. A larger “Celebration of Life” is planned later this fall in New York City with support from USA Wrestling.
Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to Beat the Streets NYC, USA Wrestling, or Friends of Massapequa Wrestling.
