Jim Testa

U-E varsity softball head coach Jim Testa has been elected to the NYS High School Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Coach Testa has led the Tigers to seven Section IV championships since he took over in 1996. He is also a longtime contributor to softball at the county and state levels, promoting the game and working to build the program from the youth level up to high school. Congratulations Coach Testa!

~ Union Endicott Central School District

Jim Testa was born and raised in Endicott. His Dad worked at the A&P and his mom at Fanny Farmer. Growing up Jim liked to play any sport. There would be pick up football games with the neighborhood kids or maybe a basketball game in the driveway. And of course baseball in any field or stick ball literally anywhere. While attending UEHS Jim was in the Key Club, and as you would guess played on UE's Baseball Team. And during vacation his family would often go to Wildwood to enjoy the beach. After High School Jim went to Cortland where he got his masters in Elementary Education. Teaching the youth of the area became a very personally rewarding career for Jim, a career which has spanned 32 years at mostly our Thomas J. Watson and Jennie F. Snapp schools. Coaching would go hand in hand with teaching for Jim. Even while still in college Jim started coaching Teener League Baseball. Since then he has coached baseball for the American Legion, Freshman Baseball and modified soccer at U.E., and both boys and girls modified basketball. It was in 1996 that Jim started coaching girls softball at U.E.. He is very proud of how team oriented girls in softball are. They are truly more of a family to each other. Every year since 1996 except one they had won the Scholar Athlete Awards along with seven Sectional Titles and many STAC Titles. Many of the athletes on his teams have gone on to successful careers in a wide variety of fields becoming doctors, lawyers and teachers, and to even continue their athletic achievements. "I've been very lucky to be involved with so many great athletes. Their dedication to the sport carries on to their entire life. And that is what makes my life teaching and coaching so rewarding.... To see my students and athletes grow and succeed in whatever they choose to do in life." Jim feels blessed to be living this life with his wonderful & supportive wife Sue. He also has 4 great kids all of whom played sports. And together Jim and Sue have 9 remarkable grandchildren. Although Jim stopped teaching in 2010 he is still coaching. Being elected to the NYS High School Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was a true honor for Jim. An honor he says he shares with 3 others; Coach Dave Ligeikis, and players Paige Rauch & Char Dodd. This tribute he told us he owes to the kids who played for him. "I'm very blessed for all the talented and dedicated players. They really are the "Coach Makers". Every time one of them congratulates me, I have to let them know, I couldn't have done it without them." In his free time Jim enjoys the time he spends with Sue and family. He also enjoys playing golf with friends. A sport he says with a smile he might have been better at if only he didn't like coaching his kids so much.

Congratulations Jim on your well deserved position in the Hall of Fame, and thank you for everything you have done in the community to help make this a great place to live. Thanks Jim!