Published: June 27, 2008 11:22 pm      

Pecora earns leadership award

Pitt-Johnstown wrestling Coach Pat Pecora has earned the fourth annual United States Marine Corps Collegiate Excellence in Leadership Award. Pecora, and Scholastic Leadership Award winner George Dlugolonski were presented with their awards at the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Convention in Las Vegas, N.V., earlier this month.

“These two coaches exemplify what this award is all about,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “They are loyal, dedicated and passionate, not just about wrestling, but producing stellar student-athletes. We are honored to present both coach Pecora and coach Dlugolonski with this award.”

The United States Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award is presented yearly to a collegiate and high school coach that represents the core values of the United States Marine Corps in their passion for wrestling and leadership.

Pecora has led the Mountain Cats program for 32 seasons and has earned 447 dual meet victories, a pair of NCAA Division II National Team Championships and 20 NCAA Regional titles.

Thirteen times Pecora has been selected the NCAA Regional “Coach of the Year,” including in 2006-07. His Mountain Cat squads have finished in the top 20 in the nation 25 times and have combined to win 48 team tournaments and 447 dual meets.

Pecora has tutored 121 All-Americans and nine individual national champions after Albert Miles earned the title at 174 pounds in 2008.

Academically, his teams led the nation in NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team selections from 1997 through 2000.

Since its inception in 1990, Pecora has coached 84 NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team members.

“This is humbling,” said Pecora. “I wasn’t expecting it. I came in to listen to Lt. Gen. Martin Steele and then I start hearing things and recognizing some of these awards and was like, wait a minute.”

“There’s so many great coaches here, I’m in awe when I come here,” said Pecora. “You have the pages of Amateur Wrestling News or W.I.N. opening up in front of you, and for me, a Division II coach, I wasn’t expecting it.”