Gerry DiBartolo Retires from SU Athletics
There has been plenty of change in our world in 44 years. But there has been one constant at Salisbury University for over four decades and that was Gerry DiBartolo being on campus. At the end of June, the campus celebrated the end of an era as DiBartolo retired from the University.
Growing up around Baltimore, playing soccer and graduating from Frostburg State University, DiBartolo became a business professor for a year at MacMurray College in Illinois before returning closer to home to take a teaching position at the business school here at SU. It wasn’t until a conversation with then SU President Dr. Norm Crawford that DiBartolo became involved with the men’s soccer program.
DiBartolo took over as head coach of the men’s soccer team in 1982. Under his direction, Sea Gull men’s soccer reached new heights. With DiBartolo at the helm, the team went from having not won double-digit games in its nearly 50 years of existence to a perennial conference and NCAA contender. In his 34 years as head coach, DiBartolo amassed a career record of 412-180-60, which ranks in the top-50 all-time in career wins across all divisions and top-20 within Division III men’s soccer. He was named Regional Coach of the Year six times, Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Coach of the Year seven times, won eight CAC Championships and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure as head coach, including a trip to the NCAA semifinals in 2004.
DiBartolo put the men’s soccer team on the map while maintaining a full course-load as a faculty member in the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business. He taught marketing strategy and international marketing and served as the school’s associate dean from 1998-2003.
“It was fairly easy to juggle both coaching and teaching. When I was in the classroom, I put all my attention on the students and made sure they reached their full potential. When I was on the soccer field coaching, I devoted all my attention to the student-athletes and was committed that they worked hard and practiced well. It’s all about priorities and planning ahead to make sure I wasn’t short-changing both roles.”
My favorite part of the job as director of athletics and campus recreation was seeing the growth of our student-athletes and success in their careers.”
– Gerry DiBartolo
DiBartolo became an assistant athletic director in 2008 then took over as the interim director of athletics and campus recreation in 2015 and subsequently full-time director in 2017. Since 2015, Salisbury Athletics has had a tradition of success that put the Sea Gulls among the top Division III programs in the country. The Sea Gulls have won five team national championships, 10 individual national championships and 36 team conference championships. Off the field, SU student-athletes excel in the classroom with over 1,500 students honored on the Conference All-Academic Teams and 19 garnering individual Academic All-Americans.
“Of course, people notice the Hall of Fame staff members or national championships and All-Americans that we’ve earned here at Salisbury. For me, my favorite part of the job as director of athletics and campus recreation was seeing the growth of our student-athletes and success in their careers. Our coaches and staff provide the support needed to have successful programs,” reflected DiBartolo. “I’ve had a great run with plenty of memories and moments, including meeting my wife (Dr. Mary DiBartolo, School of Nursing). I’m very thankful for all the people who took a chance on me to get to where I am.”