Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Following the conclusion of the legendary former Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli's career, the Board of Visitors approved the renaming of the indoor track at Rector Field House to the Dave and Ellen Cianelli Track.
"Celebrating Dave and Ellen Cianelli with the renaming of the track at Rector Field House is a fitting tribute to their extraordinary contributions and enduring legacy,” Virginia Tech director of athletics Whit Babcock said. "Their passion, commitment and excellence have set a standard of greatness, and this honor ensures their remarkable influence will continue to inspire future athletes and supporters alike. Congratulations, Dave and Ellen, on this well-deserved recognition!"
Rector Field House was initially dedicated in 1971 and named after alumnus Charles W. Rector, class of 1958. In 2018, Rector underwent an $18 million renovation to become one of the most notable and respected fieldhouses in the country for indoor track and field.
In August of 2024, it was annouced that the 20-time ACC Coach of the Year and 19-time USTFCCCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year, Dave Cianelli, would be inducted into the USFTCCCA Hall of Fame, joining 223 esteemed track and field and cross country coaches. The honor is most deserved after the incredible impact that Cianelli has had in the sport.
His retirement in July of 2024 followed a storied career. Cianelli's legacy as one of the sport's most influential coaches is marked by his 74 NCAA Champions, 507 All-America honorees, 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.
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.
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.
The renaming of the field house's track will forever commemorate the impact that Dave and Ellen Cianelli had on Virginia Tech Athletics, Virginia Tech Track & Field and Cross Country, his former student-athletes and coaches, Blacksburg, the USFTCCCA and the sports of track & field and cross country.