May 9, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College athletic director Craig Barnett has announced that associate athletic director Tony Cipollone has accepted a similar position at Allegheny College and will be leaving at the end of May.

Cipollone began at Mercyhurst in 2001 as the first head coach of the wrestling program. He remained in that role for six years before being named associate director of athletics and compliance director on Aug. 1, 2007. He had worked as both the wrestling coach and assistant director of athletics for one year prior to moving out of the coaching realm.

"Working with Tony as a team since taking over this athletic administration has been fun, challenging and exciting," Barnett said. "He has become one of my closest friends and his professionalism, friendship, and loyalty have made my job that much easier. We all wish Tony and his family the best on their new journey."

As a wrestling coach, Cipollone left Muskingum College as the reigning OAC Coach of the Year after leading the Muskies to a conference title in 2000. He compiled a 67-41-1 dual match record at Mercyhurst and built a perennial NCAA Division II Top 20 program. He won his 100th career match with a 32-6 victory over rival Gannon on Dec. 1, 2006 at The War At The Shore and ended his coaching career with a record of 111-90-1.

The biggest factor in Cipollone's decision to make the move involved his family. His wife, Tiffany, already works at Allegheny as the Director of Donor Relations and the new position will allow for a higher quality of life for his family. He is also returning to his roots at the NCAA Division III level, where he wrestled collegiately at Baldwin-Wallace and coached at Muskingum.

"The move I made was to make sure the quality of life for my two boys, Casey (5) and Cael (3), would improve," Cipollone said. "The friends and relationships that I have made at Mercyhurst are ones that I cherish. The professionalism displayed by Craig Barnett, and the leadership of Mercyhurst College including Dr. Gamble, Dr. Adovasio, Dr. Tobin and Dr. Lyden, is the reason that the decision to leave was so hard and is also the reason that Laker athletics will be a force in years to come."