News Release

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Rear. Adm. Sandra Stosz, superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, announced today that Robert J. Arkeilpane has been named the director of athletics.  Arkeilpane, the deputy director of athletics at the University of Cincinnati, will succeed Dr. Ray Cieplik who will retire this summer after having faithfully served the Coast Guard Academy for more than 40 years, with great success, Stosz said.
 
“After an exhaustive national search, Bob stood out with an impressive record of experience from all aspects of intercollegiate athletics.  He is a leader with vision, who I am confident will make a huge contribution towards helping us develop leaders of character and attain national prominence,” said Stosz.  “We are all excited that he has accepted our invitation to lead the academy’s athletic program and I look forward to his positive leadership and support for our athletes, coaches and staff.”
 
Arkeilpane was the number two administrator in charge of UC’s 18-sport intercollegiate athletic program and administered the daily operations of the athletic department.  He has three decades of Division I experience as a student-athlete, coach and administrator.  He joined the Bearcat Department of Athletics in 2005 after serving for three years as associate vice president of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, the private sector fund-raising entity for the UC and its campuses, colleges, departments and units.  Arkeilpane previously had worked for the UC Foundation as college director of development and alumni affairs from 1987-91.
 
He made his return to UC after five successful years as director of athletics at the University of Buffalo. Arkeilpane was named officer-in-charge in UB's Division of Athletics and then served as interim athletics director for 10 months prior to being named director in February 1999. He was promoted to the helm of the Bulls' department of athletics after spending three years as associate athletics director of development at UB starting in 1995. As director of athletics, Arkeilpane had responsibility for all intercollegiate athletic, recreational and intramural athletics programs at Buffalo. UB had 17 sports teams competing in the Mid-American Conference when he was named director. Football joined the conference in the fall of 1999 and under Arkeilpane's leadership, UB added three new sports - women's softball, crew and baseball. Arkeilpane's accomplishments also included guiding UB through the Division I-A reclassification process, positioning UB to comply successfully with all aspects of Title IX.
 
He came to UB from Miami University in Ohio where he was an assistant athletics director from 1993-95.  His career in administration started in Buffalo when he worked as director of annual giving from 1983-85.  Arkeilpane then moved on to an assistant athletics director/development position at Cal State-Fullerton until 1987.  He has also served as a development officer at UC and as assistant athletics director/development at Miami University.
 
A native of Amherst, N.Y., and a standout high school football player at Sweet Home High School, he earned an athletic scholarship to Syracuse, where he was a starting defensive back for three seasons.  Arkeilpane earned his bachelor`s degree in 1981 from Syracuse.  He earned his master's degree from Ohio University while serving as a graduate assistant football coach.
 
The U. S. Coast Guard Academy sponsors 23 intercollegiate sports (11 men’s, 9 women’s and 3 co-ed), most of which  compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. In football, Coast Guard is a member of the New England Football Conference and competes in the Bogan Division.
 
"I am extremely excited to be joining the Coast Guard Academy family and look forward to working with Admiral Stosz and the rest of the academy community,” Arkeilpane said.  “I was very impressed with the coaches and other athletic staff members, who I met during my campus visit, and am anxious to become part of the team."