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Cross Country

A storied career closes with the ultimate honor; Dave Cianelli inducted to USTFCCCA Hall of Fame

After 39 years of service to cross country and track and field, Dave Cianelli has been selected as a member of 2024 USTFCCCA Hall of Fame class.

STAY CONNECTED USTFCCCA Hall of Fame

I don’t know that a list of boxes exist where a coach has to check each one to be a Hall of Fame Coach, but if one did exist, Dave would check them all.

Sam SeemesUSFTCCCA CEO

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The USFTCCCA has annouced the addition of former Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Dave Cianelli, to the 2024 Hall of Fame class.  Cianelli joins 223 esteemed coaches with the honor.  Prior to the start of the 2023-24 competition seasons, Cianelli annouced his retirement from collegiate coaching and Virginia Tech.  In his final year at Tech, he accumulated a third consecutive women's indoor track and field ACC Championship, 17 All-American honors, an Olympic Trials qualifying result, an ACC MVP, Southeast Region Women's Coach of the Year and ACC Coach of the Year honors, and led the program to 17 broken records.

Cianelli's legacy as one of the sport's most influential coaches is marked by his 74 NCAA Champions, 507 All-America honors, 204 All-Americans, 390 individual conference champions, 32 World Championship qualifiers, and 22 Olympic qualifiers. At Tech alone, Cianelli has overseen the success of 20 NCAA individual champions, 13 top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships, 261 ACC individual champions, and 22 ACC team titles. The 20-time ACC Coach of the Year and 19-time USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year concluded an illustrious 39-year career in July.  

Hailing from California, Cianelli's start in collegiate coaching came from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo from 1985-88.  He coached one national champion, 13 All-Americans and the outdoor track and field teams to three consecutive runner-up finishes in the NCAA Division II Championships.

Prior to heading up the Tech program in 2001, Cianelli was an assistant coach at Southern Methodist for 13 years, where he counselled 19 Olympic and World Championship competitors, 27 NCAA Champions, 123 All-Americans and 95 conference champions.

For 23 seasons, Cianelli led the Virginia Tech programs to repeated and continuous success, departing as one of the most successful coaches in the university's history.  He coached and mentored 10 Olympic qualifiers, eight World Championship qualifiers, 19 ACC Track and Field Performers of the Year and broke 119 school records.

Cianelli leaves the sport as one of the all-time most decorated coaches and leaves a legacy at Virginia Tech.

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Coach Dave Cianelli is a legend. He's touched so many athletes and coaches and developed them into well-rounded individuals. His collection of awards and accolades purely speaks to his ability to connect with individuals and cultivate an incredible atmosphere.

Ben ThomasVirginia Tech Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
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Behind the championships, medals, records, and program successes, Dave Cianelli leaves behind a legacy of excellence for our Track and Field/Cross Country programs and our Department. His vision, values, consistency, and the discipline to deliver is a timeless template for our student-athletes and staff.

Chris HelmsVirginia Tech Executive Associate AD/Sport Administration