Megan PellegrinoThe former associate director of athletics at Temple University, Joe Giunta, has been named the new director of athletics and recreation at Cabrini College.
Giunta brings over 14 years of experience to Cabrini as a college administrator, especially in the athletics area.
“Cabrini College has an extraordinary academic and athletic tradition and I am very excited to become a part of the Cabrini family,” Giunta said in a Cabrini press release.
In high school, he played basketball at Cardinal O’Hara. Following high school, he brought his talents on the court to Penn State Delco.
While at Penn State he took a tennis course taught by long time athletic director, Tiz Griffith.
Giunta found a new love in tennis. More importantly he saw the passion Griffith had for her job.
It was at this point he pondered a career as an athletic director.
Following his two-year stay at Penn State-Delco ,Giunta transferred to Neumann College where he played basketball and tennis for the Knights.
“Balancing tennis and basketball at Neumann taught me time management and the will to succeed,” Giunta said.
At Neumann, Giunta excelled on the basketball court as an elected captain both his junior and senior years.
In addition, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with college and national honors.
After his college graduation and two brief jobs in sales for a newspaper and radio station, Giunta returned to Neumann as director of alumni relations and special programs.
His position helped him learn how to coordinate special events, run record-breaking giving campaigns and develop an annual alumni magazine.
While in what Giunta calls his “first career job” he was also an assistant basketball coach for Penn State-Delco.
In 1996, Giunta left Neumann to attend Ohio University and later earn a masters degree in sports administration and facility management in 1997.
“I was determined to succeed at all costs,” Giunta said. “I worked real hard and was very focused on the goal of a job in the sports field.”
After earning his masters and completing an internship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in an intense one-year program, he considered several career paths including NBA management, college athletic administration or even a marketing position with a professional golf tournament in Florida.
While interviewing across the country, an opportunity arose to interview for the director of athletics at St. Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The opportunity presented itself and although I never thought I would become a high school AD, I loved it.”
Three years later, with more experience than ever under his belt, Giunta applied and received the job as director of athletics for his alma mater, Neumann College.
“I wanted to come home. I knew I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to be in a college setting at such a young age,” Giunta said about his position at Neumann.
After three years at Neumann, Giunta decided to take the job as associate director of athletics at Temple University, moving from the Division III level to Division I.
While at Temple, Giunta managed the day-to-day operations of eight intercollegiate athletic teams, facilities, equipment, athletic training and strength and conditioning programs.
Giunta had reached the Division I level. But at the same time, realized in order to be a Division I athletic director one must often be willing to jump around the country to earn that position.
“I am born and raised in the Philadelphia area and this is where I want to be,” Giunta said. I feel Cabrini is one of the best Division III jobs on the East Coast.”
Giunta greets the Cabrini community and is excited to be in his new position.
“The campus, the people I met and Cabrini’s tradition of excellence,” Giunta said. “It fit. Only time will tell if this move will be my last.”
