Bio

Dario Donatelli has been the face of the men's cross country team for 13 years, leading the program to the NCAA Division III Championships eight times, while in three other years, individuals have competed on the national stage. The program made six straight appearances from 2005-2010 after Donatelli made his first visit to the national stage in his third season as the head men's coach in 2003.

Donatelli is also the head women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track & field coach. He began his coaching career at Carnegie Mellon in 1987 with the women’s cross country team.

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 award marked Donatelli's sixth UAA Cross Country Coach of the Year honor, as he also received the award in 1999 for the fifth time as the women's coach after the Tartans captured their third UAA crown under his leadership.

Dario Donatelli's 13th season as head men's cross country coach saw the team win two races and finish fifth or better in five races. Senior Josh Newby continued the 11-year streak of a Carnegie Mellon men's cross country runner competing at the NCAA Championships when he finished in the top 19% of the field and 53rd overall. In addition, four athletes earned All-Region accolades as the team placed fifth at the Mideast Regional.

After a one-year hiatus from the national race, Donatelli's 2012 team finished 17th in the nation, earning its way back to the top by finishing second at the Mideast Regional behind four All-Regional performances. The 2012 team also stepped up to the challenge at the University Athletic Association Championships where three runners finished in the top 14, leading the team to third place in one of the toughest conferences, as five UAA teams were in the national field.

Despite the 2011 team just missing a bid to the NCAA Championships, junior Evan Gates ran his way to a sixth-place finish at the Mideast Regional earning an individual bid to the national race. Gates' consistent performance over the season didn't stop as he became the first All-American under Donatelli since 2008, placing 28th.

The 2010 team hosted the Mideast Regional, finishing third at a course off campus. The Tartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships where they finished 20th with five individuals making a second appearance.

In 2009, the Tartans finished 12th in the nation behind a total team effort and second at the Mideast Regional and the University Athletic Association Championship. This followed a 2008 Mideast Regional Championship where Donatelli was named Regional Coach of the Year for the second time, as Brian Harvey won the race for the second time. The team then placed 13th at the national meet where Harvey earned his second All-America honor.

The 2007 and 2006 teams finished third at the Mideast Regional and received at-large births to the NCAA Championship. The Tartans finished ninth as a team in 2007 and were led by Harvey's 12th-place showing. Under Donatelli's leadership Carnegie Mellon has had three male All-America runners, as Dana Irrer earned the distinction in 2004 and 2005. In addition, Donatelli has coached 42 All-Region male athletes.

In 2003, Donatelli's men's cross country team placed second at the Mideast Regional as the team advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time. Donatelli was named Regional Coach of the Year following the meet.

Overall, Donatelli has coached 11 All-America and 78 All-Region athletes in cross country and 30 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 19th straight year.

Carnegie Mellon has won seven conference titles under Donatelli (four in cross country, three in track and field). He has been named a conference Coach of the Year 12 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.