Oberlin, Ohio - Oberlin College Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Ray Appenheimer announced the hiring of Rocco Mitolo as the program's new throws coach. Mitola emerged from a competitive national pool of applicants and will begin his duties immediately.
 
Mitolo spent the last six years in a similair role at nearby Case Western Reserve University. During his time with the Spartans, Mitolo's coached a national champion in the women's hammer, three NCAA All-Americans, 18 University Athletic Association champions, and mentored several athletes who set school records in the women's hammer, weight throw, discus and indoor and outdoor shot put, and the men's javelin.

"Throughout the interview process, it was very clear to me that the campus community here is very unique from anything I've ever experienced in higher education," Mitolo said. "I'm very grateful to Coach Appenheimer and his staff for the chance to be a part of it.  There is a wonderful history of a strong throwing program at Oberlin College, and the opportunity to be able to learn and grow with these student athletes is very exciting. "

As a Division III student-athlete, Mitolo had a standout career at John Carroll University, where he was an Outdoor All-American in the shot put in 2014.  During his time with the Blue Streaks, he broke school records in the shot put (16.86m), hammer throw (54.84m), and weight throw (17.92m), while earning All-OAC honors for times, which included the 2015 OAC Championship in the shot put. He was named a USTFCCCA Academic All-American in 2014.
 
"In Rocco Mitolo we are bringing to campus a national championship coach," Appenheimer said. "Throughout the interview process we were blown away by his knowledge of the sport and his commitment to the student-athlete experience. While we were well aware of Rocco's success at Case Western, we learned through the process the leadership and mentorship he provided to make that success possible. I can't wait to see him work with our students."

Mitolo graduated from John Carroll in May of 2015 with his Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Chemistry.