Aldo Spano Named Recreation Director and Sprint Football Coach

As part of its strategy to reintroduce competitive sports, New York Institute of Technology has named Aldo Spano, a 20-year teaching and coaching veteran, as director of recreation and head sprint football coach, effective September 28.

In this newly created role, Spano will direct the university’s growing student-focused intramural and club sports activities and lead the sprint football team in its inaugural season next year.

In this position, Spano is responsible for organizing a comprehensive recruiting program for the university’s sprint football program; New York Tech announced earlier this year that it was accepted into the Collegiate Sprint Football League effective July 1, 2027. As coach, Spano is responsible for planning, programming, directing, supervising, and implementing the duties and functions for this new program.

Reporting to Associate Provost of Student Engagement and Development Tiffani Hinds, Ed.D., Spano is also tasked with growing the university’s burgeoning intramural and club sports programs. Currently, club sports include co-ed badminton and men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. Additional club sports under consideration include pickleball, soccer, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse.

“This appointment represents an important step in our commitment to expanding opportunities for students to compete, connect, and develop through athletics and recreation,” says Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategic Communications Joseph Posillico, Ed.D. “I have seen firsthand the tremendous impact these programs can have on students and the campus community. Aldo brings the experience, energy, and student-centered approach needed to build a strong foundation for sprint football while also guiding the growth of our intramural and club sports programs. I am excited about what we are building and confident that Aldo will play an important role in bringing that vision to life.”

As a candidate, Spano stood out for his demonstrated ability to foster a positive, rigorous, and education-focused environment that promotes character, resilience, and academic success alongside winning. He also has a proven track record in recruiting talented student-athletes and a commitment to maximizing student-athlete potential through tailored, data-driven strategies.

“At New York Tech, students come first, and we are committed to providing an ever-richer experience for them to fully engage in campus life academically as well as through participating in events, joining organizations and clubs, and competing athletically,” Hinds says. “We welcome Coach Spano to lead the New York Tech Bears as he contributes to delivering exceptional experiences for our students.”

Spano joins New York Tech from Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was the associate head coach, linebacker defense coordinator, and running backs coach for the varsity football program. Previously, he was the sprint football defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Orangeburg, N.Y. He also held earlier coaching roles at Poly Prep, as well as at Nyack High School in Nyack, N.Y., and Edgemont Junior/Senior High School in Scarsdale, N.Y., among others.

Additionally, he has coached teams in a range of ages in the New York female flag football league in Westchester, and for the last three years, has been on the coaching staff of Sports International football camps held at Drew University in Madison, N.J. He has coached high school baseball and softball, as well as basketball at the high school and youth levels.

“My coaching philosophy is built on the belief that victory on the field is a byproduct of success in life, and I am excited to bring this to New York Tech. By upholding high standards, communicating effectively, and fostering a supportive environment, I seek to guide student-athletes to become exceptional players and responsible adults, helping them to develop character, resilience, and a lifelong passion for excellence,” Spano says.

Spano earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss., and currently is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La.