Joe Baldarotta has been named the men’s ice hockey head coach at SUNY Cortland, according to Cortland director of athletics Joan Sitterly. Baldarotta replaces Tom Cranfield, who stepped down in April after six seasons to become Cortland’s Assistant Director of Athletics (Compliance/Scheduling).
Baldarotta brings 16 years of collegiate head coaching experience to Cortland, all at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He posted the most wins in UW-Stevens Point history and his overall record stands at 265- 171-38 and includes 10 consecutive campaigns with a .500 or better record and 14 in total. His 265 wins rank 21st all-time among Division III coaches. Baldarotta led the Pointers to the 1993 NCAA Division III national championship, earning American Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year honors. The program also finished as national runner-up in 1992 and 1998 and captured three NCHA regular-season titles and two playoff crowns under Baldarotta, who was a four-time NCHA Coach of the Year.
“I’m extremely happy and feel it’s an unbelievable opportunity at SUNY Cortland,” Baldarotta said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to step in and lead this program. I’m very excited and anticipate a great relationship between myself and Cortland.”
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at Stevens Point, Baldarotta was an assistant for the Pointers for five seasons, helping the team to three straight Division III national titles. Before Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he served as an assistant coach and head coach at Madison West High School. As the team’s head coach for four seasons, Baldarotta compiled a 62-22-1 record and won the 1983 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship, earning Wisconsin State High School Coach of the Year honors.
A highly regarded camp instructor, Baldarotta has been involved in numerous off-season camps and clinics and twice has been a member of the coaching staff for the U.S. Olympic Festival.
A native of Madison, Wis., Baldarotta competed in ice hockey at Wisconsin-Stevens Point and received his bachelor’s degree from the University in 1989. Baldarotta and his wife, Cindy, have a son, Nicolo.
