Tony Ciarelli

Biography

Tony Ciarelli enters his fifth year as an assistant throws coach with the UC Irvine track & field program in 2024-25. Since Ciarelli joined the staff in 2021, the UCI throws squad has produced seven individual Big West titles, 18 all-conference awards and 13 NCAA West First Round qualifying marks. Last season, the Anteater men’s throws squad had a banner season, winning three of the four throwing events and accounting for 48 of the team’s 89 points at the Big West Championships. They also established three school records in 2024. Liam Miksic defended his conference crown in the javelin before breaking the school record with a toss of 68.34 meters (224-2) at the NCAA West First Round. Justin Willingham set the program standard four times in the shot put with the last coming in an individual victory at the Big West Championships where he hit 18.74m (61-5.75). Jacob Hawkins was also the conference champion in the discus and broke a 41-year-old school record earlier in the year with a best of 59.03m (193-8) at the Challenge Cup. On the women’s side, Deandra Tyler earned her third career All-Big West award with a runner-up finish in the shot put. Tyler tied for first but ended up taking second based on her next best throw. She was also the MPSF Indoor Champion in the shot put. Nyla Baker added an All-Big West performance during the outdoor season, placing third in the shot put at the conference meet. Five student-athletes qualified for the 2024 NCAA West First Round - Hawkins (Sho