SAVANNAH, Ga. – Legendary Carson-Newman wrestling coach and athletics Hall of Famer Don Elia passed away Wednesday afternoon at the Memorial Health University Medical Center with his wife Colleen and children by his side. Elia was 83.
In recognition of Elia's contributions to the university, the school will fly all flags on campus at half-staff Thursday.
Inducted into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame in January, Elia guided the Carson-Newman wrestling program to 15 top-twenty finishes and nine top-tens from 1978-2008. Since 1980, Carson-Newman qualified no fewer than two wrestlers every year for the NAIA or NCAA Tournaments. Elia had 67 of his wrestlers earn All-American honors, 22 of those have won individual National Championships. He sent a combined total of 35 competitors to the NCAA Championships in C-N's first seven seasons at that level. Coach Elia was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Eagle wrestling program.
Elia grew up in New Jersey, where he and his sister were raised by their single mother, Dorothy Beatty. He graduated from Hackettstown High School in 1958. After high school, he traveled to Tennessee to attend Maryville College, where he would compete in wrestling, football, and track. Though Don was an eager athlete, he wasn't quite ready for the rigors of academic life; he left school for a while, grew up a bit, and married Colleen. They moved to Maryville so Don could work and coach while he finished his degree in Education. He went on to complete a Master of Science in College Student Personnel and Counseling from the University of Tennessee in 1973. He worked briefly at the McCallie School in Chattanooga before landing the job at Carson-Newman that would define his career.
At Carson-Newman he established a wrestling program and worked as the Director of Financial Aid. From 1978 until his retirement in 2008, Don coached and mentored generations of wrestlers and helped families afford higher education. After retirement he created a non-profit to support wrestling in East Tennessee and traveled back and forth for hours to support the Club Wrestling team at East Tennessee State University.
For his decades of contributions to the wrestling community, Elia was inducted into the Maryville College Wall of Fame, the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Beyond his love of wrestling and coaching, Don was a loyal New York Giants fan, an ever-optimistic golfer, and a proud father and grandfather. He could find his way anywhere without a map. He built things without designs. Don's life was in many ways a thing of myth and legend, some no doubt of his own making, and his family wouldn't have it any other way.
Don is survived by his wife Colleen; children Christy Brooks (husband Rob) and John (wife Alice); five amazing grandchildren (Thomas, Julian, Jack, Emmylou, and Pete); and his sister Barbara Chiu (husband Vince).
A private celebration of life will be organized by his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any recognition of Don's life be sent as a gift to a local wrestling program of your choice.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com
