Well into his fifth decade of service to Norwich University, Tony Mariano continues to provide remarkable leadership to the Norwich Athletic Department that has attained unprecedented levels of success during his tenure.
Mariano begins his 30th year as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2021-22 after spending his first 14 seasons as a coach. He was the men’s soccer coach from 1978-1984, leading the 1984 team to the ECAC playoffs with an 11-4-1 record. In 1982, Mariano was also named the head men’s ice hockey coach. Under his guidance, the 1982-83 Norwich men’s hockey team made its first NCAA playoff appearance in school’s history. His teams went on to appear in 8 ECAC Tournaments and received two NCAA post season berths. In 1987, Mariano was named the Division III National Coach of the Year (Eddie Jeremiah Award) by the American Hockey coaches Association (AHCA) and the New England Division III Coach of the Year. He has also served as chair of the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and chair of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee. Mariano stepped down as head ice hockey coach in 1992 when he assumed his current position as Director of Athletics.
During Mariano’s tenure as Director of Athletics, Norwich teams have won a combined 12 National Championships between men’s and women’s ice hockey and women’s rugby, along with many other teams winning several conference championships. Mariano has also overseen the construction of Kreitzberg Arena, Doyle Hall, Andrews Hall locker room renovations and the renovation of Sabine Field.
In March 2018, Mariano was named an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He was also inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
In February 2022, the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) voted to rename the the postseason championship cups that are awarded to the men's and women's NEHC Tournament champions to the Mariano Cup.
Mariano is a 1974 graduate of St. Lawrence University with a degree in Physical Education. He received his master’s degree for Norwich University in 1975. Tony and his wife Gail reside in Northfield. Their son Tom is a Leadership Gift Officer at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. and his daughter-in–law Missy is the head field hockey coach at Hamilton College.
