Don Asmonga’s memory lives on via foundation

When I began my career as a writer at the former Valley Independent, I developed a great relationship with the coaches around the Valley.

All of them were so easy to get to know, to talk to not only on the record, but off it.

All of them except one. Belle Vernon Area’s dual legendary mentor, Don Asmonga, had always intimidated me.

As successful as he was guiding the Leps’ basketball and baseball teams, he was that tough for me to interview.

I always felt uncomfortable asking him questions because I was never sure what kind of answers I would get.

He was known as a disciplinarian as a coach and, I gotta tell you, his demeanor rarely changed when he met with the media.

At least, that’s how it seemed to me.

I rarely saw him smile, during or after games … even games his teams had won.

I remember when he retired as a coach, all of BVA sighed. Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Over the years, I found that while pretty much all of his former players loved and admired him after graduation, many of them shared my feelings of fear and intimidation while playing for him.

The funny thing is, all that changed once I got to know him in another environment we shared — the golf course.

We both had a passion for the sport, and we had parttime jobs at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Rostraver Township. He was a starter who worked the tee, and I was a ranger who ensured golfers were adhering to the rules of the course.

I was amazed at how jovial and light hearted Asmonga was away from coaching. He was engaging, proud and had a sense of humor.

And I enjoyed listening to his stories about his experiences, not only as a coach, but as an athlete and family man.

We became good friends and when he died, it was a sad day for friends of the school district and for me.

But while coach Asmonga has been gone for several years, his name continues to live on through the foundation that bears his name.

Created by his family and close friends, the Donald Asmonga Foundation has been doing great things for students in the school district.

Since 2014, it has awarded scholarships to senior student-athletes to help kick off their next chapter of life in college.

With the most recent awards, the foundation has given away $79,000 to 45 deserving BVA seniors.

The latest recipients of scholarships are Trevor Kovatch, Katie Sokol, Dominic Ghilani and Taylor McDaniel.

Thanks to the love and dedication of the foundation and its members, Asmonga’s name not only lives on, but thrives.

To help raise money for those scholarships, each year the foundation holds a golf outing that always sells out.

Former players, family and friends come from around the country to participate and play the sport they all loved as much as Asmonga did.

I can only imagine how he would have felt to see so much love and respect shown for him by so many.

I’m so happy that I got the chance to see Don Asmonga away from the basketball court and baseball diamond. It gave me a chance to see a different side of him.

And I’m so happy for the Donald Asmonga Foundation for helping to rekindle all those memories in my mind each year through its golf outing and scholarship awards. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Anyone with any thoughts, opposing views or comments on this column can reach Jeff Oliver by emailing justjto@ verizon.net