HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata College Athletics Department is thrilled to announce the hiring of Joseph Alianiello as the fifth head coach of the women's soccer team. He brings over a decade of head coaching experience to Juniata.
"We are extremely excited to have someone with Joe's experience, background, passion for the game, and commitment to the true student-athlete, lead our program," said Athletics Director & Head Men's Basketball coach Greg Curley. "We look forward to helping him build upon the strong culture and foundation of success established by Coach McKenzie. Coach Alianiello's vision for our program, belief in Juniata, and commitment to excellence in the classroom, within the community, and on the playing field, aligned perfectly with what we want for our soccer program and our student-athletes."
Coach Alianiello, a native of Altoona, spent the last seven years at the University of Minnesota Crookston as the head women's soccer coach. While at Minnesota Crookston, he led the team to its best two seasons in school history while beating nationally and regionally ranked opponents for the first-time program history and setting school records in fewest goals allowed in consecutive seasons. In 2015, he set the school record for most wins in a season and the program won six straight United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. He leaves with the most conference wins in program history.
"I want to thank Greg Curley, Dan Dubois and the rest of the search committee for selecting me as the next head women's soccer coach at Juniata College," said coach Alianiello. "This is a homecoming for me and I am very excited to begin the work of building a successful program in the Landmark Conference. I look forward to speaking with the players over the next few days and get started preparing for a successful 2019 season and beyond. I'd also like to thank Scott McKenzie and the amazing job he did here over his 19 years with the women's soccer program. I hope to honor him by building on all he has accomplished and look forward to his input."
Prior to his time at the University of Minnesota, coach Alianiello spent a season as the assistant women's soccer coach/academic advisor at Winona State University and before that he spent four years as the head coach at Concordia University.
In his one season at Winona State they were the NSIC regular season champions and worked with the goalie's as they tallied eight conference shutouts and 10 overall. The team finished the year 14-4-1 and the starting goalkeeper received second team All-America recognition.
In his five years at Concordia he: led the team to wins over three conference opponents they had never defeated (Northern State, Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State), was named NSIC Coach of the Year, and broke six school records in the standout 2006 season (most wins in school history, most conference wins in school history, highest regular season finish, first ever postseason win in school history, first-ever appearance in the NSIC finals and third place in the NSIC Tournament). He is also the all-time wins leader at Concordia.
Alianiello graduated from Saint Francis University with a B.A. in History before getting his master's at Concordia University. He also played goalkeeper on the men's soccer team at Saint Francis all four years where he holds several records. He holds the single season record in goals against average, save percentage and shutouts in a season. He holds the career record in goals against average, shutouts, save percentage and wins. Alianiello was voted Team Defensive Player of the Year his final two years and served as a team captain his final year.
Alianiello resides in State College with his partner Jessica and their son Aidan Thomas.