Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

The city of Erie, PA, sits next to one of the Great Lakes.  Maybe that’s part of the reason one of its favorite sons has achieved so many honors while in water.

Neil Postas swam butterfly and individual medley while a student at IUP from 1970 through 1974, becoming the first in school history to achieve All-American distinction in NCAA Division II for the butterfly.  Postas held 14 IUP swimming records, and became a three-time Penn-Ohio Conference Champion, also in the butterfly.

Some of his greatest moments came, however, as a swim coach with schools in Erie, most notably Cathedral Prep, where his teams won 42 individual District X Championships, 10 team District X Championships in 11 years, five Team Championships at the IUP Relay Kickoff Classic, among many more.  Postas was named the 1999 Pennsylvania State Water Polo Coach of the Year, and now adds the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame to his prior inductions into the Cathedral Prep and Erie County Aquatic Halls of Fame. 

The native of Erie, PA, attended Strong Vincent High School.  At IUP, he earned both a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1974, as well as a master’s degree in counselor education in 1978.  He lives in Erie with his wife, Debra.  The couple has two grown children, Ryan and Jenise.