Rocco Constantino has been named the new director of athletics at Middlesex College.
Constantino brings to his new role two decades of experience in education and athletics. For the past 15 years, he has worked in athletics administration on the NCAA, junior college, and high school levels.
Most recently, he served as the athletics director at Santa Barbara City College, an Aspen Institute award-winning college.
While at Santa Barbara City College, Constantino was a finalist for Administrator of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Under his leadership, that school’s athletic department was rated as one of the Top 10 junior college athletic programs out of 107 in the state of California for the first time in 2018.
At Santa Barbara City College, Constantino managed an operating budget of approximately $2 million and played a key role in the development of a $40 million gym renovation and $1.5 million football stadium upgrade.
Additionally, he oversaw all COVID-19-related health and safety initiatives during in-person athletics practices and contests.
Constantino’s move to New Jersey is a homecoming for the Essex County native, a graduate of Belleville High School, New Jersey City University, where he earned a bachelor’s in English/Writing; and Montclair State University, where he received a master’s in educational leadership.
Prior to his move to Santa Barbara, Constantino was the athletics director for New Providence High School.
But it was at Bloomfield College where Constantino firmly established his career in collegiate athletics. During his near decade tenure there, he served as head coach and assistant director of athletics on the NCAA Division II level.
“My time working at Bloomfield College was my most enjoyable,” he said of those formative years, adding, “the possibility of returning home to New Jersey to work at a great school like Middlesex College is very appealing to me.”
Given his extensive experience in all aspects of college athletics administration, Constantino is clear-eyed about the responsibilities and expectations that come with his new position.
“I am aware of the extreme hours and responsibilities of the position and am more than willing to put in the time and effort to be successful in the position,” he said.
During the search for the new director of athletics, he outlined a strong vision for leadership for athletics at Middlesex College.
“I couldn’t be happier to be joining the Middlesex College family,” Constantino said. “I am eager to lead our coaches and staff into a new era in serving our students and community. Middlesex College athletics is poised to flourish in both the long and short term. There are so many fantastic high schools in Middlesex County and there is nothing I would love more than to help establish Middlesex College as a destination for scholar athletes ready to take the next steps in their lives.”
- This information was provided by Middlesex College.