Mark Corino Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Caldwell College

Mark Corino, now in his 18th year as the Executive Director of Athletics at Caldwell College, has overseen the growth and success of the Cougars' athletic department. The only full-time director of athletics the College has ever had, Corino arrived in 1988 to head a department that offered three intercollegiate sports with no conference or national affiliation. Now, 11 Caldwell College athletics teams compete in the NCAA Division II and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

With Caldwell starting out as an NAIA member, Corino oversaw the College's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, which was completed in 2003. Along with the jump to NCAA Division II status came an upgrade in facilities with the opening of the state-of-the-art George R. Newman Center, home of the Caldwell College basketball teams.

Along with his duties as Executive Director of Athletics, Corino also is head coach of Caldwell's successful men's basketball team. The list of Corino's coaching accomplishments is impressive: Six trips to the national tournament; seven CACC regular-season championships; five CACC Tournament titles and a District 31 crown. One of the most successful college coaches in the state of New Jersey, Corino is third all-time among men's college coaches in the state with 441 career victories. A four-time CACC Coach of the Year honoree, Corino has a career mark of 441-290, including 346-242 in 20 seasons at Caldwell College.

Corino remains actively involved in the intercollegiate athletics community. He has served on the Board of the Directors for the ECAC since 2007, and is the CACC's representative on the Division II Athletic Directors Association Board of Directors. Beginning this year, Corino will serve on the Northeast Region's Regional Advisory Committee for men's basketball.

A native of Belleville, N.J., Corino attended Kean University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in industrial arts. He later received a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Caldwell in 1997.

Corino, 53, resides in Cedar Grove, N.J., with his wife Susan and daughter Michele. "My family has been tremendously supportive and without their understanding we would not have been able to accomplish all that we have here at Caldwell," Corino said. "They've played an important part in our success as well."