The University of Bridgeport’s Athletic Director, Joe DiPuma, announced his resignation on June 1, 2004. He has resigned to spend more time with his new baby, Michelle Marie, and wife Gloria. DiPuma has been the athletic director at UB for the past five years. The assistant athletic director, John Pizzi, will take over June 1, 2004 until another athletic director is named. “I think he’s done a lot of great things for the University. He has been willing to help athletes in many ways and will be missed,” Brandi Sellers remarked on his resignation. While at UB he has helped improve the athletic program. The student athlete population at UB has risen to over 135%. The student athlete GPA has risen to almost a 3.0. The women’s gymnastics and women’s soccer teams have received national academic achievement awards over the last five years since he has been at UB.
Joe DiPuma has instilled a winning tradition among sports teams. The men’s soccer team has won back-to-back ECAC titles. The men’s soccer team has made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. The women’s soccer team has made it to ECAC semi-finals two years in a row. The women’s volleyball team made its first ECAC semi-final appearance in UB history.
DiPuma helped revive the intramural sports program and helped add a new cardio room in the Wheeler Recreation Center. Also, DiPuma has played a big part in that UB will add a varsity swim team and junior varsity baseball team in the fall 2004. Most recently, the Arnold Room in Harvey Hubble Gymnasium was redone into an Alumni room. It was fully furnished with new carpet, paint, and trophy windows were added. In addition, a kitchen, mobile bar, tables, chairs, television, and VCR were added. The women and men’s locker rooms were renovated.
Joe DiPuma has helped immensely to restore the UB athletic program. “I think he’s a great guy and he’s going to be missed,” said Lauren DeCarlo, a member of the women’s softball team.