John D’Argenio
women’s golf program won the MAAC for the ninth straight season
Director of Athletics
in 2009. Volleyball advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the
fourth consecutive season, falling to California, while men’s
John D’Argenio was appointed director
lacrosse played in its first NCAA Tournament, bowing at eventual
of athletics on April 21, 1993, after
National Champion Syracuse.
serving as the acting director of athletics
for the 1992-93 academic year. Since the
Athletic success has been a constant for the past 15 years under
appointment, many new initiatives have
D’Argenio’s supervision. In 1994 the men’s basketball team advanced
been set forth and much progress has
to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals at Madison Square
been made in the athletic department.
Garden. The Saints made their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance
in 2009, after capturing their fourth MAAC title since 1999. The
The department’s first academic advis-
women’s basketball team has captured seven regular-season Metro
ing office was created and a full-time
Atlantic Athletic Conference titles, and in 2001 advanced to its first
advisor was hired to work with all of
NCAA Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints have played in
Siena’s student-athletes. The academic
three postseason WNIT’s as well, advancing as far as the round of 16
office has been responsible for implementing a tutoring program,
in 1998. Siena has registered eight MAAC volleyball championships
developing educational programming and producing a student-athlete
and four MAAC baseball titles during D’Argenio’s tenure. The women’s
population whose combined grade-point average is higher than that
soccer program has consistently finished in the upper echelon of
of the general student body. In recent years, Siena’s student-athlete
the MAAC after posting the nation’s eighth most improved season
graduation rate has ranked among the best in the country. In the
in 2001 and the 10th most improved season in 2008. The women’s
NCAA’s inaugural graduation success rate announced in 2006, Siena
tennis team won the MAAC in 2006 and men’s lacrosse is a program
student athletes finished 5th among all Division I schools. The
on the rise as evidenced by its perfect MAAC campaign this past
department has ranked in the top-10% nationally in each of the
spring. All totaled, the Saints have won 29 MAAC championships
subsequent reports.
under D’Argenio’s direction.
As part of the College’s efforts to address gender equity, the women’s
Siena’s athletic facilities have been dramatically enhanced in the last
sports programs have expanded immensely in the past 15 years.
15 years. In 2007, the department debuted an artificial turf facility
With the addition of golf, women’s swimming and diving, women’s
that serves as the home field for the field hockey and lacrosse pro-
water polo and the elevation of lacrosse from club to varsity status,
grams. The College hosted the 2008 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse and
Siena now sponsors 11 Division I women’s sports.
MAAC Women’s Soccer Championships in the beautiful new facility.
In 2004, the Callanan Field House was expanded. The expansion
In 1996 D’Argenio was instrumental in negotiating Siena’s agreement
features four team rooms as well as the Turchi Theater, a 32-seat
with the County of Albany and Times Union Center (formerly Pepsi
room equipped with the latest in digital editing and presentation
Arena) to move all of the College’s men’s home basketball games to
equipment. In the summer of 2008, Siena enhanced its academic
the downtown facility. The move to the state-of-the-art downtown
study center, providing a first rate facility for student-athletes to
Albany facility culminated in Siena and the Arena signing a five-year
pursue their academic goals.
contract and most recently a four-year extension. Since the move,
both the men’s and women’s basketball programs have seen their
In 1995, D’Argenio served as Tournament Director for the NCAA
attendances soar to the top-80 nationally. Since the move to the
Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at
Arena, Siena has also made major strides in the marketing of its
Knickerbocker Arena. He again assumed those duties in March of
programs. An active corporate partnership program has emerged
2003, as Siena served as the host institution for the men’s basketball
on the heels of the 1996 decision that includes over 45 local and
East (Albany) Regional at Pepsi Arena after co-hosting the NCAA
national businesses.
wrestling National Championships in March of 2002. The Saints
have hosted numerous NIT and Women’s NIT games as well,
Athletic Development giving has increased over the past 15 years as
including a remarkable six in 2003.
well. Saints Alive!, the department’s athletic development organiza-
tion, was initiated in 1998 to formalize and bring structure to the
Prior to his appointment to director of athletics, D’Argenio served
department’s fund raising efforts and its membership has grown
as Siena’s sports information director from 1985-1992.
each year since. Over $400,000 was raised during the 2008-2009
budget cycle through Saints Alive!, and distributed directly to serv-
D’Argenio served out his final year on the NCAA Division I Baseball
ices that benefit the College’s student-athletes.
committee in 2008 and is a member of the MAAC marketing and
finance committees. He also serves as chair of the MAAC baseball
Siena teams have enjoyed conference-wide as well as regional and
committee and is a member of the board for the Albany County
national success. In 2008-2009 four sports teams captured MAAC
Convention and Visitors Bureau and Albany Sports Foundation.
Championships, highlighted by the men’s basketball team’s memo-
rable run to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament after an
D’Argenio earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of
upset of Big Ten power Ohio State. The Saints’ volleyball team
Dayton in 1982 and a master’s of science degree from North
won its fourth straight MAAC title in the fall of 2008 and men’s
Dakota State University in 1985. He is a native of Rome, N.Y.
lacrosse captured its first MAAC Championship in the spring. The
2009-2010 Siena College Basketball 39
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