Ranieri began her tenure at the college in 1991 as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach. During her tenure, she and her husband Dave, built the program into a perennial national contender reaching the pinnacle in 2003 with the college’s only team National title. Ranieri coached her squad to eight SUNYAC titles and nine NCAA tournament appearances. She is the program’s all-time winningest coach and received numerous Coach of the Year honors including the National Coach of the Year in 2003.
Ranieri added additional duties in 1995 as the Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator before being named as the full time Director of Athletics in 2007.
As Director of Athletics, Ranieri transformed SUNY Oneonta athletics internally and externally boasting a higher retention and graduation rate for student athletes compared to the total student body. Every aspect of the way the athletics department operated was influenced by the energy and foresight that Ranieri brought to the position. Her tireless efforts to elevate the department in academics, athletic excellence, service and facilities created the benchmark for the future. With her hands in many projects and programs on-and-off campus, she was known as a self-starter who worked cooperatively with all facets of the campus community to support scholar athletes and promote growth in the athletics program.
At the conference level, Ranieri twice served as the President of the SUNYAC while serving on numerous committees. She brought her passion to everything she did and developed lasting policies and programs that will continue to benefit the student athletes of the 10-member conference for years to come.
Ranieri served on the NCAA Division III Management Council from 2013-16 culminating in her Chairmanship during 2015-16. The council serves nearly 450 active Division III members and 43 conferences.
Throughout her professional career, Ranieri received numerous honors and awards at the regional and national level including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2004. In 2014, she was the recipient of the NACDA
Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year award.
Ranieri is a 1986 graduate of Ithaca College where she was an All-American soccer player – the first in history for the women’s program. She was inducted into the Bombers’ Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Ranieri has advanced degrees in Cardiac Rehabilitation from East Stroudsburg (1991) and Nursing from Binghamton University (1995).
Ranieri Interview (Audio Podcast)
Ranieri Personal Reflection
