Kutztown University Athletics

Ernie Slessinger attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1924. He taught and coached at East Pittsburgh High from 1926-29. He has a master’s degree from Columbia University. He was the Athletic Director and coach of all sports at Kutztown from 1929-36. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1936 and coached and taught physical education at different high schools until his retirement in 1967. During World War II, he spent three years in the U.S. Army as a captain. Since retirement, he has lived in Laguna Hills, Calif., where he is active in local clubs and still serves occasionally as a substitute teacher. When Coach Slessinger arrived on the campus in the fall of 1929, the athletics department and especially the football program was in its infancy. He began by instilling a positive attitude among the athletes and by the time he left, the program was healthy and thriving. His character rubbed off on his teams and many of his former players still remember the fine lessons about life that were learned from him.