USD Women's Basketball 1997-1998

Tom Iannacone - Director ofAthletics

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Tom Iannacone is in his tenth year as Director ofAthletics at the University of San Diego. He was named Director of Athletics on September 1, 1988 after holding the same position the previous four years at St. Francis College of Pennsylvania. At USD, Iannacone directs an Athletic Department that includes 16 NCAA Division I inter– collegiate varsity teams, eight men's and eight women's, plus intramurals and recreation. In the last nine years behind his direction and leadership, Torero Athletics has enjoyed successes both on and off the playing field. His accomplishments at USD include an internal reorganization of the athletic department, plus improvements in the major areas of personnel, scholarship assistance, facilities, promotions and marketing, fund raising, drug education, aca– demic support, and a university approved plan for scholarship support and sports sponsorship. In addition, he was instrumental in USD gaining membership to the Pioneer Football League, which began play in 1993. He is a member of the I-AA Athletic Directors Association Execu– tive Committee; and is past Chairman of the West Coast Conference Athletics Directors Com– mittee. During Iannacone's tenure, facilities at the USD Sports Center, along with all athletic fields, have seen vast improvements. Improvements at the Sports Center include complete renova– tions of both the north and south wings that added offices for administrators and coaches; addi–

tional locker rooms for women's basketball, volleyball and women's soccer; an athletic department conference room; and an academic support room. Torero Stadium, where football and men's and women's soccer compete, was widened to accommodate soccer, and added a state-of– the-art lighting system and scoreboard. The Softball Complex has benefitted with a scoreboard, new dugouts and batting cages. Additionally, The Canyon Field received lighting for intercollegiate practices and intramural use. This fall the university will kickoff its Capital Campaign for the Jenny Craig Pavilion, a new 5,000 seat multi-purpose facility that will be home for USD basketball and volleyball, and benefit the entire university community. On the playing fields, USD has sent nineteen teams to NCAATournaments since Iannacone's arrival in the Fall of 1988. Additionally, the school has captured five conference championships; nineteen NCAAAll-Americans; fifteen CoSIDNGTE Academic All-Americans; eleven conference Coaches of the Year; ten conference Players of the Year; and three West Coast Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Since '88 the university has been the host site for NCAA Tournament events for women's volleyball, men's soccer and women's tennis. Prior to USD, Iannacone built an impressive list of credentials at St. Francis College as Director ofAthletics between 1984-87. His major

contributions included the expansion of sports offerings and scholarships for both men and women, improved budgets, renovation of athletic facilities, the hiring of additional staff, and the establishment of a master plan for the future and continual development of athletics. He served on several committees, most notably the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Infractions committee and the Northeast Conference committee on conference development. He served as assistant Director of Athletics at Fordham University between 1977-84. Along with his administrative duties, he was assistant football coach for the Rams . Between 1975-78, he acted as offensive coordinator and backfield coach as Fordham captured 19 victories in their final 24 games during this span. The '77 squad was and remains the highest scoring team in Fordham history, averaging 34 points per game. In 1983 he was presented the prestigious Jack Coffey Award by the Alumni Association for his outstanding contributions to Fordham athletics. He also served on various Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference committees. Prior to Fordham, Iannacone taught physical education and coached track and field, and football in Connecticut Public School Districts from 1964-76. He made his collegiate football coaching debut as an offensive backfield coach at Western Connecticut State University in 1974. A 1964 graduate of the University of Con– necticut, Iannacone received his master of science degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State University in 1973. Tom and his wife, Cynthia, have three children: Tom Jr., Jennifer and Eric. All three are graduates of the University of San Diego.

1997-98 University of-San Diego Toreros Women's Basketball Media Guide