Elias George, a Canonsburg, PA native and outstanding wrestler at Canonsburg H.S. earned a reputation as a leading scholastic wrestling coach at Evanston Township H.S. in Evanston, IL., where he served from 1958 until his retirement in 1987.

George was a WPIAL champion in 1942 and 1943 and PIAA champion in 1942. He also won AMA/AAU, National junior AAU and Oklahoma AAU titles and was national senior AAU runnerup.

He was a Big 10 champion at Indiana University in 1946 and was captain of an undefeated team at Oklahoma State university in 1949.  He served eight years on the U.S. Olympic wrestling committee and had a record of 517-139-14  as a high school coach.  -PA Sports Hall Of Fame, Washington-Greene County Chapter - 

Coach has influenced countless kids to be/do their best in sports and most importantly life. -Craig Hahn  

Several weeks ago Coach Elias George underwent double knee surgery replacement. Several months ago Coach Elias George underwent heart surgery. Several years ago Coach Elias George changed my life. Who is Coach Elias George?

Many know him as the legendary coach of the Evanston (Illinois) Wildkits wrestling team. Some know him as the 2 time All-America for Oklahoma A& M. Some remember him as a state champion in Pennsylvania. Others call him Dad, Grandpa, & Eli. There are still others who remember him as a football and soccer coach or as a physical education teacher. I just call him Coach.

Coach taught me so many things about life I do not know where to begin. Coach only expected me to do my best and to work as hard as I could. Even when it hurt to lose and I cried, Coach would not let me feel sorry for myself. Somehow he understood how that feeling was helping me grow to become the best person or wrestler I could be. To this day, I have vivid memories of him saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Those words spurred me on in the wrestling room and in life. Those words stuck in my brain from the first time he said them till now. If only I could thank him for all the struggles those words helped me through. If only I could explain to him how he will get through this time because he is the ultimate survivor. Coach does not know what giving up means and has taught countless students the meaning of perseverance, dedication, and pride. Those traits have been burned in my mind and have become part of my personality. 

Coach George was able to build state champions (11), state placewinners (over 50) college All-Americans (20), and even a USA Olympian with no feeder program. This may not seem mind altering to you…but how many people do you know who have won state titles with only 1-4 years of wrestling? I know a few….but all of the state champions from Evanston Township High School started competing as freshmen. A few were state champions prior to their senior years. Monumental in my book.

Those feats are nothing in comparison to the lives Coach touched. Coach was able to show his students how wrestling mirrored life. Coach demonstrated how to execute moves the right way and how to deal with adversity on the mat, in the classroom, and everywhere else. Coach explained that working hard can cure a lot of your problems. Coach always said “if you are not doing it the right way, why are you doing it…learn how to do it the right way and practice the right way”. Maybe not the most eloquent speech…but very, very solid-sound advice that can be applied to most everyone’s life.

To teach and coach for over 50 years deserves some kind of life-time achievement award. Some sort of recognition. Some sort of remembrance…something. I guess that is why I am writing this letter. Coach George has given his life to wrestling and I want to give him something back.

Coach George, this is for you. Thank-you! -Shannyn J. Gillespie

Copyright © 2004 by Coach Shannyn,  All rights reserved