John Papa, a native of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, first attended Slippery Rock State College in 1975. As a student, Papa began his athletic career with vigor and eventually earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the decathlon at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division III National Championships. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1979, Papa began his teaching career in Virginia. In 1984 he returned to Slippery Rock University (SRU) as a graduate assistant with the track and field program.
Papa remained at SRU, eventually earning his master's degree in Athletic Administration, and becoming an assistant coach. Papa accepted the position of head coach of the cross country and track and field programs in 1987. His accomplishments at Slippery Rock University have been vast with 25 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference team titles and 127 student-athletes named as Division II All-Americans under his leadership. Papa retired from Slippery Rock University after the conclusion of the 2022 season.
Interview: April 27, 2023Interview Transcript |
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