Mercyhurst University Athletics

Pete Russo enters his 17th year heading the Department of Athletics at Mercyhurst College. Over the years, Russo has initiated an aggressive expansion and modernization of the department[apos]s staff, programs and facilities. The expansion of the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, remodeling of the Recreation Center, construction of the Mercyhurst Ice Center and Hirtzel Field, one of the region[apos]s best baseball facilities, and the construction of Tullio Field that returned football to the college, are just a few of the improvements made during Russo[apos]s tenure. Russo[apos]s agenda has also included moving the sports programs from independent status to conference membership. Fourteen varsity sports compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Football moved to Division II scholarship in the fall of 1998 and became a part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Hockey joined the Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference[apos]s (MAAC) Hockey League in 1999. Men[apos]s volleyball competes in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). Mercyhurst initiated women[apos]s varsity golf and women[apos]s varsity ice hockey in the fall of 1999. The college will increase its number of varsity sports to 25 in 2001-02 with the addition of men[apos]s and women[apos]s water polo and wrestling. Russo was also instrumental in establishing the first athletic programs at Mercyhurst-North East. During his years at the Hurst, Russo has held several committee positions with the Tri-State Athletic Association, Eastern College Athletic Conference, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He served as president of the GLIAC for the 1998-99 academic year. He is presently Chairman of the GLIAC Championship Committee. In September of 2000, Russo was appointed to a four-year term on the NCAA Division II Men[apos]s Basketball Committee. Russo also served as chairman of the Great Lakes basketball region. Russo played a major role in the rating and selection of teams that participated in the NCAA Division II Regional Basketball Tournament as well as the final Elite Eight National Tournament. Phone: (814) 824-2226 Email: prusso@mercyhurst.edu