Bowling Green State University Athletics
Elsasser Honored By Special Olympics
March 31, 2004 | General
March 31, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University Assistant Athletic Director Jim Elsasser was named "Honorary Coach" of the 2004 Ohio Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament. The award was given to Jim on March 26 at the Opening Ceremonies in Anderson Arena.
Jim serves as the Athletic Department's liaison for the tournament and has been on the Tournament Committee the last four times the tournament has been in Northwest Ohio. Bowling Green State University has been an avid supporter of Special Olympics and hosted the first tournament in 1970. Since then, fifteen state tournaments have been held in Bowling Green.
The tournament drew thirty-six teams as well as an additional 400 athletes who participated in a skills contest. Thirty-two games were played over 2 1/2 days at Anderson Arena, Perry Field House, Bowling Green High School and Perrysburg Junior High School. The skills contest was held Saturday morning at Bowling Green High School.
"It is always a pleasure to work with Jim when the Tournament comes to Bowling Green because of his professionalism and dedication to the Special Olympics Program," stated Special Olympics Ohio Program Director Martin Allen. "Jim has done an outstanding job strengthening an already historic commitment of the University to the Special Olympics program."
Jim has not only a professional but also a personal conviction for Special Olympics. His brother David participated in Special Olympics in Lorain County for the Murray Ridge Tigers. David passed away three years ago. At Opening Ceremonies, the Elsasser family felt David's presence. The Murray Ridge Tigers had played in the opening game of the tournament prior to Opening Ceremonies. As his accepted the honorary coach award, Jim stated that he was especially proud to receive the honor because his brother had been a proud Murray Ridge Tiger.
