Gannon University unveiled and dedicated the Howard "Bud" Elwell '55 Golf Simulator in June of 2016. Located on the second floor of the Gannon Recreation and Wellness Center, the Howard "Bud" Elwell Golf Simulator added to an impressive list of improvements to Gannon athletic facilities.
The room was made possible thanks to large contributions from the Elwell and Eisenman families, Gannon golf alumni, Gannon general alumni, boosters and friends. The facility includes two Technique Prestige Golf Simulators and a large putting green for student-athletes' year-round use.
"With its state-of-the-art technology along with the visual tribute to Bud, this room embraces both the history of Gannon golf as well as its future," said Bud's wife Nancy Eisenman-Elwell. "When Bud's retirement from Gannon was acknowledged in December of 1996, he told basketball fans at the Hammermill Center "my heart's in this place." Twenty years later, this room says that for him again."
Inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, Bud Elwell later received the Division II Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 in honor of his 30 years of commitment as the Gannon Director of Athletics and later passed in November of that year. His two most notable accomplishments over those infinitely successful 30 years were guiding the Gannon athletics program from NAIA status to a fully-competitive NCAA Division II program, and increasing the number of varsity sports from five to 17. Elwell also transitioned Gannon, a long-time independent-status athletics program, into becoming a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the strongest in all of Division II.
With a focus on gender equity, he added several women's teams to the department as well as equalizing women's scholarships to be on the same level as the men's. Elwell was also actively involved in leadership positions with the NCAA, including stints as the NCAA Division II vice president, chairman of the Division II Championships and Steering Committees, and a member of the NCAA Council, Executive Committee, Administrative Committee, Executive Council, Finance Committee and Chairman of the Division II Basketball Committee.
"We are so grateful for the support of the Elwell-Eisenman family and for the opportunity to honor and remember Howard "Bud" Elwell," said Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk. "Bud truly made a lasting impact on Gannon University as a student-athlete, coach and long-standing director of athletics. We are proud to be able to honor his legacy through the dedication of the Howard "Bud" Elwell Golf Simulator."
A native of Newark, Ohio, Elwell initially spent four seasons as a basketball student-athlete at Gannon before earning his bachelor's degree in 1955. Following graduation and a two-year military tour of duty, Elwell received his master's degree from Ohio State University before returned to Erie to accept an assistant coaching job under Gannon men's basketball head coach George Hesch. He later served as the Golden Knights' head golf coach for 25 years, leading the program to a 341-119-6 mark in dual matches and earning 10 bids to the NCAA Division II Tournament. His teams also boasted a record 49 tournament championships and six All-Americans. In addition, Gannon hosted the 1984 and 1989 NCAA Division II National Championships.
Elwell's expertise did not stop at basketball, golf or the director of athletics position. He also served as Gannon's cross country coach for seven seasons (1962-68). The program advanced to the NAIA National Championships in 1967, and he ended his cross country coaching career with a 70-33-1 record.
"The Howard "Bud" Elwell Golf Simulator will benefit our student-athletes immensely," noted Gannon men's golf head coach Dustin Coleman. "It gives our golfers year-round access to top-notch practice facilities that are second to none. Not only will this help our current teams, but it will also be a huge advantage when it comes to recruiting. I was personally blown away when I saw the finished product. They spared no expense when building this first-class facility. We are so thankful to Bud, the Elwell-Eisenman family and those who contributed. This would not be possible without them."
Gannon golfers will have access to a large putting green and two simulators year round, helping offset the winter months. The Technique Prestige Golf Simulators are the finest and largest offering in the Technique line. Each simulator includes a 142-inch diagonal screen, 27 golf courses and a TruTrac Tracking System among other amenities.
