Craig BarnettDirector of Athletics
Craig Barnett begins his first year as the director of athletics at Mercyhurst in 2007 after returning to the school as the associate director of athletics in December of 2006. He was an assistant men's hockey coach and the Mercyhurst Ice Center Director from 1991-93.
Most recently, Barnett was the director of athletics at NCAA Division III Becker College in Worcester, Mass., where he also worked as the men's hockey coach. Barnett was instrumental in starting football and men's and women's lacrosse programs at the school, while renovating the gym and signing a contract to have the school's natural grass fields replaced by turf.
Barnett has a strong background in both athletic administration and hockey. He played two years in the New York Ranger organization before moving to Mercyhurst. After spending two years with the Lakers, he went to Kent State where he assisted the men's hockey team and received his master's degree in Sports Administration.
After receiving his master's, Barnett took over the hockey program at Findlay in 1995, moving the program from club status, to NCAA Division III and eventually to NCAA Division I during his eight years at the helm. He then decided to look for experience in athletic administration and moved to a preparatory school, Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Ill. in 2002. That job was a springboard to his position at Becker College.
Barnett, a native of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, received his bachelor's degree in marketing from Plattsburgh State (N.Y.) in 1989. He has a wife, Andrea, and the couple has three children - Olivia, Braeden, and Jace.
Tony CipolloneAssociate Director of Athletics
Tony Cipollone was named Mercyhurst's associate director of athletics and director of compliance on August 1, 2007. Prior to that time, Cipollone was the head wrestling coach for six years and was the assistant director of athletics for one year.
He was the first wrestling coach in Mercyhurst history and built the program into a regional and national power. With a 66-41-1 dual match record, he built a perennial top 20 program and was respected around the country, being named the chairman of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Rules Committee.
With a 32-6 win over rival Gannon on December 1, 2006 at War At The Shore, Cipollone won his 100th career match. He has a career mark of 110-90-1 after going 44-49 in five seasons at Muskingum College.
As the assistant director of athletics, Cipollone served as the academic advisor for the athletics department and oversaw the school's Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
Cipollone wrestled at Baldwin-Wallace and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the school. He was inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sara HeadleyAssistant Director of Athletics
Sara Headley added the title of assistant director of athletics on August 1, 2007 after beginning at Mercyhurst in 2004 as the softball coach.
Headley has a career record of 76-97-1 in four years, leading the Lakers to the most wins (23) in program history in 2007.
Headley graduated cum laude from Robert Morris in 1999 with a degree in business administration/sport management. She then went on to earn her master's degree in business administration from Augusta State University in May of 2001.
Headley will take over the role of overseeing the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and will be involved with event management.
Mary Ann LoveSenior Women's Administrator
Mary Ann Love is in her fifth year as head athletic trainer and in her first year as Mercyhurst's Senior Women's Administrator. She and the rest of the athletic training staff administer to the needs of 25 varsity sports and nearly 700 student-athletes.
She graduated from Mercyhurst College in 1993 with a degree in sports medicine and received her master's from California University of Pennsylvania in 1994.
Prior to Mercyhurst College, Love served as the athletic trainer for the Erie City School District from 1994-1999 and for Mercyhurst North East from 1999 to 2000. She also served as a Mercyhurst College assistant athletic trainer from 2000 to 2002.
