September 2, 2013
Angelo Posillico Named Oneonta Track & Field Coach
SUNY Oneonta head cross country coach, Angelo Posillico, has been named the head coach for the track & field program announced today by Athletics Director Tracey Ranieri. Posillico, who will now oversee both the cross country and track & field programs, takes over the track & field program from Matt LoPiccolo, who is headed to Duke University to work in their track & field program.
"Angelo is ready to take on his new role as the head coach of both programs," said Ranieri. "Working with Matt as a coach and having him as a mentor is a bonus to a young man who has been preparing for years for this moment. Angelo personifies today's successful college coach. He is committed to the student athlete experience, prepares with intention, is kindhearted and works extremely hard. His competitive nature, motivation and knowledge are extraordinary and I have no doubt he will make the athletes experience unforgettable and our teams the best they can be."
A 2008 graduate of Oneonta, Posillico will enter his third year as head cross country for the men and women's squads this fall. He was also serving as the Associate Head Coach for the track & field teams. Posillico earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology while competing as both a cross country and track & field athlete.
"I'm honored and excited to be the next head coach of SUNY Oneonta Track & Field," said Posillico. Matt has done a tremendous job building this program from scratch and my goal will be to continue that tradition of success."
Since Posillico's arrival, both cross country teams have improved each year where last fall both squads finished third at the conference championships. Posillico is anticipating that the cross country program will challenge for the top spot in the SUNYAC championship meet, which will be at Fortin Park in Oneonta on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The cross country program has also excelled in the classroom during Posillico's tenure, as both teams have been recognized nationally by the USTFCCCA in back-to-back seasons under Posillico.
Posillico, who has been serving as the associate track & field coach for two seasons, inherits a program that is riding high after its best year since being reinstated as a varsity program in 2001. Under his guidance, Posillico has developed a dominating group of throwers while bringing along many of the distance runners in the program.
Posillico added, "My first step will be to assemble a coaching staff that has the characteristics that will allow us to continue to providing a winning experience for our student athletes. I would like to thank Tracey and Dr. Steve Perry for sharing my vision and providing me with this opportunity."
Posillico announced that Sean Bernstein (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Chris Popovici and Hannah Backus are being added to the coaching staff for both programs. Bernstein will be an intern while he finishes his undergraduate work while Backus and Popovici will be assistant coaches.
Posillico is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. He also holds a USATF Level III Certification in the Throws as well as IAAF Level V Academy Coach Certification. Both are the highest level of certification offered by either organization. In addition to these organizations Posillico has also studied under the USTFCCCA and the US Olympic Committee.
Prior to Oneonta, Posillico served as an assistant coach for cross country and track & field at the University of Redlands. During that time the women's track & field team won a SCIAC team championship. In addition to coaching, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education.
Under LoPiccolo's tutelage, both program's experienced success at the conference, regional and national level. This past winter, the men's team captured its first SUNYAC title and LoPiccolo was selected as both the SUNYAC and NCAA Atlantic Region men's Coach of the Year.
This past spring, LoPiccolo guided the men to a sixth place finish at the NCAA outdoor championships while winning two national titles. LoPiccolo built the program from the ground up and worked tirelessly to make Oneonta a national contender. All tolled, LoPiccolo coached over 100 SUNYAC champions and five national champions while garnering conference Coach of the Year honors three times.
"I have enjoyed my years of service here at SUNY Oneonta," stated LoPiccolo. "I am proud that I was not only able to establish track & field as a sport here, but that I enjoyed success even beyond my own expectations when I took the position. I leave the program with a bright future, and I feel content leaving it in great hands."
"Matt was devoted to the college and serving student athletes," commented Ranieri. "Finding the words to describe his success; growing a new program to a program that demonstrated consistent national prominence is emotional. This could only be done with perseverance, passion, attention to detail and incredible coaching talent. He knows his sport and can teach it in a way that brings out the best in his athletes. In all of my years of working with Matt, students always said he was a compassionate coach, able to push them beyond their limits. He was patient, humorous, had an amazing work ethic and gave generously of his time and knowledge to others. While he had many talents, I would also attribute his success to his thirst for knowledge. He was always pushing his own borders and challenging his own way of thinking to motivate and teach his athletes. I loved working with him and we are all going to miss him so much."
"Angelo is ready to take on his new role as the head coach of both programs," said Ranieri. "Working with Matt as a coach and having him as a mentor is a bonus to a young man who has been preparing for years for this moment. Angelo personifies today's successful college coach. He is committed to the student athlete experience, prepares with intention, is kindhearted and works extremely hard. His competitive nature, motivation and knowledge are extraordinary and I have no doubt he will make the athletes experience unforgettable and our teams the best they can be."
A 2008 graduate of Oneonta, Posillico will enter his third year as head cross country for the men and women's squads this fall. He was also serving as the Associate Head Coach for the track & field teams. Posillico earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology while competing as both a cross country and track & field athlete.
"I'm honored and excited to be the next head coach of SUNY Oneonta Track & Field," said Posillico. Matt has done a tremendous job building this program from scratch and my goal will be to continue that tradition of success."
Since Posillico's arrival, both cross country teams have improved each year where last fall both squads finished third at the conference championships. Posillico is anticipating that the cross country program will challenge for the top spot in the SUNYAC championship meet, which will be at Fortin Park in Oneonta on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The cross country program has also excelled in the classroom during Posillico's tenure, as both teams have been recognized nationally by the USTFCCCA in back-to-back seasons under Posillico.
Posillico, who has been serving as the associate track & field coach for two seasons, inherits a program that is riding high after its best year since being reinstated as a varsity program in 2001. Under his guidance, Posillico has developed a dominating group of throwers while bringing along many of the distance runners in the program.
Posillico added, "My first step will be to assemble a coaching staff that has the characteristics that will allow us to continue to providing a winning experience for our student athletes. I would like to thank Tracey and Dr. Steve Perry for sharing my vision and providing me with this opportunity."
Posillico announced that Sean Bernstein (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Chris Popovici and Hannah Backus are being added to the coaching staff for both programs. Bernstein will be an intern while he finishes his undergraduate work while Backus and Popovici will be assistant coaches.
Posillico is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. He also holds a USATF Level III Certification in the Throws as well as IAAF Level V Academy Coach Certification. Both are the highest level of certification offered by either organization. In addition to these organizations Posillico has also studied under the USTFCCCA and the US Olympic Committee.
Prior to Oneonta, Posillico served as an assistant coach for cross country and track & field at the University of Redlands. During that time the women's track & field team won a SCIAC team championship. In addition to coaching, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education.
Under LoPiccolo's tutelage, both program's experienced success at the conference, regional and national level. This past winter, the men's team captured its first SUNYAC title and LoPiccolo was selected as both the SUNYAC and NCAA Atlantic Region men's Coach of the Year.
This past spring, LoPiccolo guided the men to a sixth place finish at the NCAA outdoor championships while winning two national titles. LoPiccolo built the program from the ground up and worked tirelessly to make Oneonta a national contender. All tolled, LoPiccolo coached over 100 SUNYAC champions and five national champions while garnering conference Coach of the Year honors three times.
"I have enjoyed my years of service here at SUNY Oneonta," stated LoPiccolo. "I am proud that I was not only able to establish track & field as a sport here, but that I enjoyed success even beyond my own expectations when I took the position. I leave the program with a bright future, and I feel content leaving it in great hands."
"Matt was devoted to the college and serving student athletes," commented Ranieri. "Finding the words to describe his success; growing a new program to a program that demonstrated consistent national prominence is emotional. This could only be done with perseverance, passion, attention to detail and incredible coaching talent. He knows his sport and can teach it in a way that brings out the best in his athletes. In all of my years of working with Matt, students always said he was a compassionate coach, able to push them beyond their limits. He was patient, humorous, had an amazing work ethic and gave generously of his time and knowledge to others. While he had many talents, I would also attribute his success to his thirst for knowledge. He was always pushing his own borders and challenging his own way of thinking to motivate and teach his athletes. I loved working with him and we are all going to miss him so much."
