Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
Anthony "Tony" DiCecco, class of 1971, is being inducted into the Upper Iowa University Hall of Fame in the coaching category. A baseball player at UIU from 1967-70, he earned a B.S. degree in Physical Education.
Embarking on a teaching/coaching career that started at West Central in Maynard in 1971, DiCecco led his 1973 softball team to a third-place finish in the state tournament. His career took him to Montezuma (Iowa) High School, where he compiled a 306-69 record as girls' basketball coach. His teams made two state tournament appearances and won eight conference titles.
As the University of Northern Iowa's winningest women's coach, DiCecco will be starting his ninth season as leader of the Panthers, with a career record of 119-108. He has compiled four straight winning seasons, including an 18-12 record last season. The Panthers finished 12-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play last year and earned a berth in the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
A respected collegiate coach by his peers, DiCecco travels the state as an entertaining speaker promoting women's collegiate basketball.
A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Tony resides in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with his wife Kristi, a 1970 Upper Iowa University graduate.
