For the second consecutive year and the 18^th time in his 43-year Pitt-Johnstown career, Head Coach Pat Pecora was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) 2018-19 NCAA Division II Super Region I Coach of the Year by his peers in the region.  Pecora led his Mountain Cats to a 16-3 dual meet record, the program's 22^nd NCAA Regional title, and a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dual Meet Championship to mark the four straight conference championship.
 
This award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.
 
The award is presented by Defense Soap, the official Hygiene partner of the NWCA.  Defense Soap Owner, Guy Sako stated, "In continuing our mission, Defense Soap is proud to partner with the NWCA, to keep wrestlers on the mat with our products and education in hygiene."
 
This year's award was announced following the conclusion of the 2019 Division II Super Region I Tournament at Mercyhurst University.
 
"We are pleased to recognize this year's Regional Coach of the Year recipients and want to thank them for providing a quality experience for their student-athletes and for being outstanding role models to our sport," NWCA Executive Director, Mike Moyer.
 
Each of the six winners now becomes eligible for the NWCA National Coach of the Year award, this will be presented at the Division II Hall of Fame function, Thursday, March 7 prior to the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championship in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Pecora, in his 43^rd season at the helm of the Mountain Cat wrestling program, led Pitt-Johnstown to a 16-3 overall record and a perfect 6-1 record in the PSAC.  The Mountain Cats secured a share of the PSAC Dual Meet Championships with Gannon and Kutztown to mark their fourth consecutive conference dual meet title.

Pecora, who also doubles as Pitt-Johnstown's Athletic Director since July 2008, took over the Mountain Cat wrestling program in 1976.
 
His 597 career victories are the most ever for an NCAA Division II coach and rank second all-time among coaches in all divisions.
 
Pecora has guided his team to 22 NCAA Regional Championships, including five straight from 2003 through 2007 and ten in a row from 1992 through 2001.
 
His Mountain Cat squads have won a pair of NCAA Division II National Championships, and have 34 Top-20 national finishes, 22 Top-10 finishes, and 11 Top-5 finishes.  They have combined to win 49 team tournaments and 597 dual meets.

Pecora has tutored 149 All-Americans and 14 individual national champions who have combined for 21 titles.  Academically, his teams led the nation in NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team selections from 1997 through 2000.  Since 1990, Pecora has coached well over 100 NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team members.

In 1996 and 1999, his teams captured the NCAA Division II National Championship, the first and second in school history.  In 1995 and 1999, Coach Pecora was named NCAA Division II National "Coach of the Year." Also in 1999, he received the National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaching Excellence Award, given to the best coach in all divisions.  Pecora also coached the National All-Star Team, which showcased the best wrestlers in the nation from all divisions.
 
Pecora, a member of the NWCA Board of Directors, was also the president of that organization for two terms.
 
In 1994, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame-East Boro Chapter, and in 1998, he was inducted into both the Cambria County Sports and the West Liberty State (W.Va.) College Halls of Fame.  In March 2001, Coach Pecora was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and, in 2003, he earned induction into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame.  In April 2015, he earned induction into the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame and in April 2016, he joined the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.  In April 2017, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
 
Coach Pecora also earned the 2008 United States Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.