University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics

    Don Elzer didn’t choose Pitt-Johnstown because of its rich basketball tradition.  Mr. Elzer committed to Pitt-Johnstown in the fall of 1973 following a standout career at Pittsburgh’s South Hills High School because he fell in love with the campus on his very first visit.  After arriving, Mr. Elzer helped turn around a struggling program on his way to becoming the school’s first 1,000-point scorer since it became a four-year institution.  Mr. Elzer also still holds the Pitt-Johnstown record for career rebounds with 945.
     As a freshman, Mr. Elzer and the Mountain Cats suffered 20 losses.  However, just one year later, Pitt-Johnstown posted a 16-8 overall record under Head Coach Dave Campbell.  Jim Basista took over the reigns of the program in 1975 and the Mountain Cats finished at 10-13, setting up the stage for Mr. Elzer’s senior season that saw Pitt-Johnstown set the school record for wins with 20 and advance to the school’s first-ever post-season tournament berth.
     During that special 1976-77 season, Mr. Elzer led the Mountain Cats in rebounding with 290 and became Pitt-Johnstown’s first 1,000-point scorer.  His efforts earned him All-American honors in 1977 and All-Section honors for the third consecutive year.
     Mr. Elzer’s 945 rebounds are still tops on the Mountain Cat All-Time Rebounding List, while his 1,147 career points rank 13th on Pitt-Johnstown All-Time Scoring List.
     After graduating with a degree in Economics in 1977, Mr. Elzer, who paced Pitt-Johnstown in rebounding three straight years, continued his basketball career for one more season in Chile, including a stint with the Chilean National Team.
     Prior to his arrival at Pitt-Johnstown, Mr. Elzer was a three-sport standout in basketball, track and field, and cross country in high school.  He helped lead his basketball team to a pair of section championships.
     Today, Mr. Elzer and his wife Dianna live in East Palestine, OH.  With his 26-year-old son Daniel, he manages a family business that manufactures and installs water treatment equipment.  Mr. Elzer also owns a small property management company and is currently working on opening a restaurant in East Palestine.
     In addition, Mr. Elzer recently completed his third year as president of the East Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is also serving in his first year as a member of the East Palestine City Council.
     “I am honored, proud and humbled to be receiving this induction into the Pitt-Johnstown Hall of Fame,” Mr. Elzer said.  Pitt-Johnstown is an institution made up of people that I owe everything to.  I should be honoring them, not the other way around.”