PETER CINELLA NAMED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.
(June 9, 2007) - Peter Cinella, who recently
wrapped up his 14th season as the head women's
basketball coach at American International College, resigned from
that position Friday to accept the head women's basketball coach
position at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck,
N.J. Cinella, whose tenure was fourth among Northeast-10
coaches, will become the sixth head coach in the history of FDU
women's basketball.
"This is certainly a great opportunity for Peter. He has done amazing things for AIC and the women's basketball program here, and this is a great opportunity for him," said AIC Director of Athletics Richard Bedard. "While he will certainly be missed, we wish him nothing but the best of luck in his new endeavor."
Named the fourth head coach in AIC women's basketball history on June 28, 1993 at the age of 25 after a year as an assistant to former head coach Denise Taylor and a year as an assistant with the Yellow Jacket men's basketball program, Cinella has compiled a 291-122 (.691) record in 14 seasons at the helm. Over that span, AIC has posted nine 20-win seasons and made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, including in each of the last four seasons. The Yellow Jackets captured the Northeast Region championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight" in 2002 and 2006, and in 2006 advanced to the national championship game, falling to Grand Valley State 58-52.
Under his tutelage, numerous players have been named Northeast-10 All-Conference and Kodak/WBCA All-Northeast Region. Two players have garnered All-America honors, with Sharmion Selman named a Kodak/WBCA First Team All-American in 2005-06 and Alexis Castro named to the Daktronics Division II All-America Second Team last season.
A 1990 graduate of Western New England College,
Cinella was a four-year starter for the
Golden Bears and led the team to the NCAA Division III tournament
as a senior while scoring over 1,000 career points. He is a
native of Lee, Mass. and a 1986 graduate of Lee High School, where
his father, Tom Cinella, is the highly-successful coach of the
girls' basketball program there.
Cinella inherits a Fairleigh Dickinson squad that went 11-18 last season and posted an 8-10 mark in Northeast Conference play. The Knights advanced to the NEC quarterfinals before bowing to Robert Morris.
A successor to Cinella will be named in the near future.
Peter Cinella Year-by-Year
Year Overall NE-10 Highlights
1993-94 20-9 11-7 NE-10 Championship Game
1994-95 22-9 12-6 NCAA Tournament, NE-10 Semifinals
1995-96 18-11 9-7 NCAA Tournament, NE-10 Championship Game
1996-97 18-10 11-7 NE-10 Semifinals
1997-98 16-12 12-8 NE-10 Semifinals
1998-99 18-10 11-7 NE-10 Semifinals
1999-2000 20-10 11-7 NCAA Tournament, NE-10 Semifinals
2000-01 22-10 15-7 NCAA Tournament, NE-10 Semifinals
2001-02 28-4 19-3 NCAA Northeast Region Champion,
NCAA "Elite Eight"
NE-10 Regular Season & Tournament Champs
NE-10 Coach of the Year
2002-03 15-13 11-11
2003-04 24-7 17-5 NCAA Tournament, NE-10 Semifinals
2004-05 23-9 16-6 NCAA Tournament
2005-06 26-8 16-6 NCAA Division II National Finalist
NCAA Northeast Region Champion
NCAA "Elite Eight"
2006-07 21-8 16-6 NCAA Tournament
TOTALS 291-122 187-93
CAREER POSTSEASON RECORD: 26-22
CAREER NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD: 12-9 CAREER NE-10 TOURNAMENT RECORD:
14-13