Dave Cianelli named ACC Women’s Coach of the Year

BLACKSBURG – Director of track & field and cross country Dave Cianelli was named the Women’s ACC Coach of the Year, leading the Hokies to their third consecutive ACC title. 

This award marks Cianelli’s 20th career ACC Coach of the Year award since taking over the reins in 2001. 

During the 2024 indoor campaign, Cianelli led the Hokies to their third consecutive ACC title scoring 92 points, the fifth-highest team score in the past 20 years. 

Senior Victoria Gorlova was awarded her third ACC Women’s Field MVP title after finishing first in long jump and second in triple jump at the indoor conference championships, Tech’s first-ever ACC women’s long jump title. Gorlova placed fourth in triple at the NCAA Championships breaking her own school record with a mark of 44′ 9.5″ (13.65m). 

Lindsey Butler earned First Team All-American honors placing seventh in the 800m at the NCAA Championships with a season-best time of 2:02.39. Butler won her third career 800m indoor conference championship with a time of 2:03.86. 

Cianelli also helped with the success of Sara Killinen winning her first conference title in weight throw with a mark of 72′ 11.25″ (22.23m). Killinen went on to finish eight at the NCAA Championships throwing 70′ 7.75″ (21.53m). The women’s team tied for 26th at the NCAA Championships scoring eight points. 

Under Cianelli’s leadership, the Hokies won their first-ever ACC track and field title in 2007. The women’s team kept the momentum going by winning the 2007 ACC Outdoor Championships and the 2008 indoor and outdoor conference titles. 

In 2011, the Hokies became the first hosting team to win the men’s league title since 1979. Aiming for the program’s first ACC outdoor title on the men’s side, Tech men’s track and field team dethroned the seven-time defending champion Florida State at the 2012 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. 

In 2022, Virginia Tech became the first host school in ACC history to win both the men’s and women’s conference titles. The men’s and women’s teams would go on to defend their titles at the 2023 ACC Indoor Championships. Read more about Cianelli’s career: Director Dave Cianelli earns 21st ACC Championship Title 

Earlier this month, USTFCCCA awarded Cianelli with his 19th regional award while serving as the director of track & field and cross country at Virginia Tech.