Now Bossi, at age 76, is back in charge of the program.

Bossi succeeds the man who succeeded him - Tim O’Keefe, who resigned to become athletic director at Tyngsborough High, and the man he has been assisting for the past eight years.

“I never really left after retiring,’’ said Bossi, a member of both state and national wrestling halls of fame. “I hung around to assist him, and we had a nice run together, with four state and one New England title. I was the logical choice. The kids know me and I know them.’’

Bossi has been named interim coach, but he made it clear he’s in this for the long haul. “My goal is to mentor a couple of young coaches and have them eventually take over the program,’’ he said. “This is a young man’s game, but it definitely hasn’t passed me by. I still have the vim and vigor to do the job and I’ll coach as long as I can. I expect to be doing this for a while.

“For me, it’s not about the wins and losses, but to keep the tradition of Lowell wrestling intact. I’m doing this for the kids.’’

O’Keefe applauded the selection of Bossi.

“He is a true legend,’’ O’Keefe said. “He is the beginning and the end of Lowell wrestling as far as I am concerned. I love the fact that he is back as head coach. He has been a father figure to not only me but to thousands of other Lowell kids. I have spoken with some of the kids he’ll be coaching next season and they’re all excited to have him back.’’

Ipswich High adds 11 to hall of fame Eight former Ipswich High athletes, including sisters Jean and Joan Clarkin, two coaches, and a longtime supporter, have been selected to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Joan Clarkin (class of 1981) and sibling Jean (1983) both excelled in basketball and track, and both were Globe All-Scholastics. The other athletes to be enshrined on Nov. 25 are Bernard Adell (1978, football and track); Charles Gianakakis (1954, football and baseball); John Gillespie (1957, baseball, football and basketball); Peter Gorniewicz (1971, football); Kevin Nylen (1999, soccer, basketball and lacrosse); and Kathy Paganis (1977, field hockey and basketball).

The mentors being honored are Arthur Carey, who coached lacrosse and football, and also served as athletic director during a 23-year career, and Ken Spellman, who has coached boys’ and girls’ track a combined 59 seasons. Joseph Rogers, who served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal during his tenure from 1950 to 1985, is being inducted for meritorious and longstanding service. Gillespie and Carey will be inducted posthumously.

Around and about Merrimack College has rewarded hockey coach Mark Dennehy with a two-year extension that will keep him at the helm through the 2018-2019 season. Last season, Dennehy guided the Warriors to their first Hockey East championship game, a school-record 25 Division 1 wins, and their first NCAA appearance since 1988. He was the 2011 New England Coach of the Year . . . Three area golfers will tee it up tomorrow in the American Junior Golf Association Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out, being held at Plymouth Country Club. Among them are Nick McLaughlin of New Castle, N.H., who will be looking for his second AJGA victory. He won the CorseMax/Philadelphia Runner Junior in 2009. Also in the field are Chris Gentle of Lowell and Jason Steele of Georgetown . . . Woburn Country Club is the site of the Tanner Pride Classic Golf Tournament on Aug. 8, sponsored by Woburn Memorial High’s athletic department. Call Jim Duran at 781-937-8210, ext. 119, for details. . . . First-year University of Massachusetts Lowell hockey coach Norm Bazin has added Jason Lammers and Cam Ellsworth to his staff. Lammers spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Colorado College, after stints at a half-dozen colleges across the country. Ellsworth arrives after three years as an assistant with the Sioux City Musketeers of the US Hockey League.

Send ideas or information to johnpvel@aol.com.