Lou Fiorillo Takes Over Reins of Elmira's Cross Country Programs
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Pat Thompson, Elmira College Vice President of Athletics, announced the appointment of
Lou Fiorillo as head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams. Fiorillo will begin his coaching duties on July 1, 2017, as Elmira continues to develop both of its relatively young programs.
"Coach Fiorillo brings the energy and expertise to move both programs to a new level of competitiveness," Thompson stated.
Fiorillo becomes the second coach in EC's brief history by replacing Callie Black '05, who served as the first head coach for the women's team since its inception in the fall of 2014, before also taking over the men's program the following season.
"I am very excited for the opportunity that Pat Thompson and the administration at Elmira College have given me," said Fiorillo. "During the interview process I was blown away by the atmosphere that Elmira College provides for its student-athletes. I got a real sense of a family atmosphere from all of the coaches and administrators I spoke with. I was also impressed with the athletes I had lunch with and the positive outlook they had at Elmira. I also want to thank previous coach Callie Black for her insight. I hope to build upon the foundation that she established three years ago. I am excited and looking forward to getting started."
A coaching veteran in the Southern Tier, Fiorillo has spent several years at the helm of several high school programs in the Corning-Painted Post area school district. Fiorillo served as the head coach of Corning's boys and girls cross country teams from 1986 to 2009, guiding the Hawks to five New York State Section IV Team Championships and mentoring 10 individual sectional champions. His girls team won three of those Section IV titles in a four-year span, including back-to-back championships during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Fiorillo also served as the head coach of Corning's indoor track and field teams from 1998 to 2009, as well as two stints as the school's outdoor track and field coach from 1980 to 2004 and 2008 to 2009. Under Fiorillo's tutelage, Corning was able to secure eight Section IV team titles, a pair of Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) League titles, New York State and Federation Team Championships, as well as 10 individual state championships.
Although Fiorillo's high school coaching days have been over for several years, he has stayed busy as the founder, owner and personal trainer of Fiorillo Fitness LLC, located in Painted Post, New York, as well as working with Colgate University's NCAA Division I women's volleyball team as a volunteer coach.
Fiorillo received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science degree in Education from Elmira College. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).