Tom Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Established at Mansfield University Mountaineer Foundation
MANSFIELD, Pa. (03/06/2025) — Kerry Elsasser '92 '98 and Amy Morel L'Horset '96 have established the Tom Elsasser Memorial Scholarship at the Mansfield University Mountaineer Foundation to honor their late father's life and legacy at Mansfield. The Elsasser Memorial Scholarship will provide scholarships for student-athletes competing in both men's and women's sports at Mansfield.
Elsasser, who passed away in 2023, served as the head coach of Mansfield's NCAA Division II football team from 1983-1995. He holds the record for the longest tenure as well as most wins of any coach in Mansfield football history. Beyond individual accolades, including being named PSAC East Coach of the Year in 1990, Elsasser supported student-athletes in attaining their goals in the classroom and in their sport. With players named to All-PSAC East honors 83 times during his tenure as head coach, some of coach Elsasser's players went on to sign professional contracts with the CFL, NFL, and international leagues.
"Our father loved Mansfield University," Kerry and Amy said in a joint statement. "He supported both students and coaches and believed in the power of a relationship between a coach and an athlete. We know that it would be important to him to give this financial boost to coaches in order to help student-athletes grow and thrive at Mansfield."
All three of coach Elsasser's daughters attended Mansfield University. Kerry majored in education, Amy in dietetics, and the late Ruth Elsasser-Kolberg in nursing.
The Elsasser Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to student-athletes who are natives of New Jersey as a nod to Elsasser's coaching roots in Passaic. The inaugural recipient of the Tom Elsasser Memorial Scholarship is Ian Mapp, a junior sprint football student-athlete selected by his coaching staff. Mapp, a native of Burlington Township, New Jersey, is a nursing major, a nod to Ruth who spent her career in the nursing field.
"Tom's legacy is such an important one to so many at Mansfield," explained Peggy Carl, Mansfield Athletics Director. "This scholarship in his name will help student-athletes achieve new heights while helping to provide them with the boost they need to thrive. We are forever grateful to Kerry, Amy, and the entire Elsasser family for continuing Coach's great work."
After retiring from coaching, Elsasser served as the academic advising director for Mansfield's athletic mentoring program that he and admissions counselor Jamie Butsko established in the late 1980s. He served on the Mansfield Alumni-Athletic Hall of Fame committee and was a familiar face in the stands at Mountaineer sporting events.
"Mansfield has a large alumni network that stretches far and wide," Kerry and Amy said. "Our dad would want us to continue to help Mansfield grow.
"He was always striving to make things better and we hope that these scholarships will help the university continue to thrive."
To support the Elsasser Memorial Scholarship at the Mansfield University Mountaineer Foundation, visit mountaineerfdn.org and click "Make a Gift." Under designation, select "other" and enter "Elsasser Memorial Scholarship."
Media Attachments
Tom Elasser (center) is shown with the Mountie football team in the late 1980s.