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WTAJ
Legendary UPJ coach Pat Pecora passes away at 70
By Riley HolsingerRyan Risky,
19 hours ago
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Legendary Pitt-Johnstown head wrestling coach Pat Pecora has passed after a long bout with cancer, according to the program.
Pecora was 70 years old.
“Pat was a great example of all that is good about Division II,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “He was the best of us and will be sadly missed by all of the PSAC. We offer our deepest condolences to Pat’s family and the entire UPJ community.”
Pecora led the Mountain Cats program for 48 seasons and became the all-time wins leader for college wrestling back in 2020, a title he still owns.
In this photo made on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown wrestling coach Pat Pecora, right, greets Chris Eddins, the teams 149 pound competitor as they warm up before an NCAA college wrestling match against Gannon in Johnstown, Pa. Pecora, who started coaching with the Johnstown team as a 22-year-old in 1972, had become the winningest wrestling coach in NCAA history with his 217th victory, breaking a 46-year-old record, on Feb. 7, 2020. The team defeated Gannon to raise Pecora’s record to 618-151-8. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pecora helped UPJ win its first two NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1996 and 1999. Throughout his time there, 170 wrestlers were All-Americans with 15 of them winning individual national championships, with his most recent one being Jacob Ealy from this past season.
What he truly created though was a countless number of great men through his various lessons on life.
“Even though he was pushing me to become a better wrestler, his main goal was to make me a better man,” Former UPJ two-time NCAA Champion Thad Benton said. “He could see that all of his lectures, lessons and advice all paid off in the end. I am a better man, father, husband and coach than I could have ever been if it weren’t for him.”
In this photo made on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown wrestling coach Pat Pecora, right, looks up at the pre-match timer before an NCAA college wrestling match against Gannon in Johnstown, Pa. Pecora, who started coaching with the Johnstown team as a 22-year-old in 1972, had become the winningest wrestling coach in NCAA history with his 217th victory, breaking a 46-year-old record, on Feb. 7, 2020. The team defeated Gannon to raise Pecora’s record to 618-151-8. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pecora’s influence and lessons trickled down to the youth level with his coaching tree over the years, leaving his permanent mark on thousands of local wrestlers whether if they wore a Mountain Cats singlet or not.
Throughout his bout with cancer, Pecora constantly was an example for his students by showing them to always continue to fight.
“He instilled the kind of work ethic into young men that they needed,” Benton said. “He was hard at times but also knew when to be compassionate. He knew how hard to push someone to their breaking point, then push them that little bit extra.”
Pecora is survived by his wife Tracy, four children and eight grandchildren.
WTAJ will reflect on Pecora’s impact on the program, area and his wrestlers during Monday and Tuesday evening’s newscasts.
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