Dario Donatelli

Head Women's Cross Country Coach

Dario Donatelli is in his second stint as the head women’s cross country coach and completed his 19th season in 2010 after starting with the program in 1987.

The 2010 cross country season was one of top accomplishment for the team and individuals as the team placed seventh at the Mideast Regional and two individuals made the NCAA Championships field.

Donatelli, a 1981 graduate of Carnegie Mellon, was named the University Athletic Association Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the first time in 2005 when the Tartans took the men's UAA title. The honor marked Donatelli's sixth UAA Coach of the Year award, as he also received the recognition in 1999 for the fifth time as the women's coach after the Tartans captured their third UAA crown under his leadership.

During Donatelli's first 14 years with the women's team, the Tartans won three UAA titles in a span of four years, with four teams making the NCAA Championship. Maureen McGranaghan became the program's first cross country All-America athlete in 1996 and repeated her performance in 1997 and 1998. Joining her as an All-America finisher was Margaret Powers in 1997 and 1998, as the team had its highest finish (4th) on the national level during the 1998 season. Donatelli has also coached 27 All-Region female athletes.

Overall, he has coached nine All-America and 65 All-Region athletes in cross country and 27 All-America athletes in track.

In addition to their athletic honors, Donatelli's athletes are among the best students at Carnegie Mellon and the nation at large. The cross country team received Team All-Academic honors for the 16th straight year with an impressive GPA of 3.41.

Carnegie Mellon has won six conference titles under Donatelli (four in cross country, two in track and field). He has been named a conference Coach of the Year ten times.

Donatelli's coaching success followed an outstanding collegiate athletic career. As a senior cross country runner at Carnegie Mellon, under retiree Gary Meckley, Donatelli earned All-America honors and led the Tartans to the NCAA Mideast Regional title. Donatelli was a three-time All-Mid East runner, four-time national qualifier and the Presidents' Athletic Conference Most Valuable Performer in 1980.

If you would like to speak to Coach Donatelli by phone, call 412/268-2220(O) or 412/243-3601(H).