Joe Russo decided it was time to spend more time thinking about vacation spots with his wife.

“My wife and I want to travel,” said the former Catasauqua head wrestling coach. “My wife and I talked about how long I would coach. I knew it was coming, and it was time to do some other things.”

After six seasons at the helm, Russo stepped down with an overall 50-46 dual meet record. The Rough Riders were 11-5 this past season and earned a berth in the district Class 2A tournament. Russo also was a long-time assistant coach in the youth and high school programs.

After he took three wrestlers to the state tournament this spring, Russo could see the proverbial “writing on the wall.”

“I knew when we came back from states,” he added. “I didn’t want to wait too long. There are so many more things to deal with today, and I realized I wanted to have more time.”

He was glad to see his son, senior Brendan Nye, return to the program after playing basketball for the previous two seasons.

“It was great to have him back for his final year,” said Russo about Nye. “I worked with some of the older guys like Gavin Fehr since they were five. It was great to see our younger guys develop over the past few years.

“But having Brendan back for his last year was the icing on the cake.”

Fehr, who finished third at district and advanced to states, wasn’t totally surprised with Russo’s departure. He and teammates juniors Mikhail Hartranft and Chad Beller traveled to Hershey.

“It was a little shocking to hear the news at first, but I understand that he thought it was time,” said Fehr, who finished with 112 career victories. “We had a great season and had three people make it to states as well as finishing undefeated in the league’s Western division again, so why not go out with a bang.

“I thought he would stay one more year to coach Mikhail and CJ (Beller), but I am proud to say that I was part of his last team. He’s been my coach ever since kindergarten, so the program will always be something special.”

Hartfanft also will have some fond memories.

“Coach Russo leaving is a big deal, and I wish I was able to finish my high school career with him,” said Hartranft. “Coach Russo will forever hold a spot close to my heart, as he is a man who showed me more than just wrestling. I will be forever grateful for that.”

Adam Reinhart, who along with Jaryn Hartranft were Russo’s first two state qualifiers, saw Russo as a prime motivator.

“Coach Russo was a very big part of my wrestling career,” he said. “All throughout high school, he always helped me achieve my goals. He never gave up, not only on me, but also on our whole team. My first day of practice my senior year, he told me that we were going to Hershey at the end of the season.And we did.

“He played a big part in that by making sure I was healthy, and helping me make some changes to be in the best position to achieve my goal. He was the best coach for my team, and he knew us all very well. It was just a player and coach bond that was like being part of a family. I hope he moves on to bigger and better things.”

Russo, who has been a social studies teacher at Whitehall for the past 20 years, fully completed his dream. Looking ahead, Russo will be the new coordinator of Whitehall’s National Honor Society, but he also didn’t rule out getting back into the (wrestling) “room” someday.

“I have wanted to be a coach since I was 16,” said the Catty wrestling alum. “I coached Little League when I was 17. I knew it was the right move, and I am glad for everything that the program achieved.

“We reached a level where we should have been. I don’t know how much better we could have done. We knew we weren’t going to be Notre Dame or Saucon Valley, but we were right there.

“I believe the program is in a good position right now.”

For the past six years, Russo did his part in getting it there.