Joe Tonelli Named University of Bridgeport Head Baseball Coach

Bridgeport, CT- University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Jay Moran announced today that Joe Tonelli has been selected as the Purple Knights new head baseball coach.  Tonelli, who has been on the UB baseball staff since the Fall of 2009 and also serves as the University's Director of the Wheeler Recreation Center, takes over from John Anquillare who led program for the past nine seasons.

Said Moran, "I can think of no better person to keep our baseball program moving in the right direction then Joe Tonelli.  He has been an integral part of a team that reached the conference tournament finals in the past two years and set a school record for wins in 2011.  His baseball knowledge is impeccable having served as a head coach at the NCAA Division III level, plus he has a great deal of experience with Division I and Division II programs.  I look for more good things from our baseball program in the coming years, and I see coach Tonelli as the leader to take us to another level."

Before coming to Bridgeport in 2009, Joe served as Assistant Baseball Coach at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut from 2005-2009.  During his time with the Bobcats, QC made one NCAA Division Regional appearance and two Northeast Conference Playoff appearances plus six players signed professional contracts.

Tonelli helped start the baseball program at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut serving as the Falcons' head coach from 1990-2003.  During his time at Albertus, the team won two conference titles, and he was named conference Coach of the Year twice.  The Falcons also made two ECAC Division II Tournament appearances along with playing in the NCAA Championship (2001 and 2002), plus the program produced 44 All-Conference players including six Players of the Year and three Pitchers of the Year. Joe is also a member of the Albertus Magnus College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Joe also has a variety athletic administrative experience have served as Sports Information Director, Assistant Athletic Director and Athletic Director during his time at Albertus Magnus, plus Tonelli also has been Director of Athletics at Lauralton Hall High School in Milford, Connecticut.  His father, Joe Tonelli Sr., is the former Director of Athletics at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Connecticut who currently works for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference plus was legendary baseball coach Frank "Porky" Vieira's assistant at the University of New Haven for 13 seasons.

Tonelli is a 1990 graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts where he was a standout third baseman for the Greyhounds earning All-Northeast 10 Conference honors twice and First Team All-New England accolades once during his career plus serving as a two-year team captain. 

Coach Tonelli currently resides in Milford, Connecticut with his wife Linda and their children.