SUNY Cortland Athletics

One of Cortland’s first female intercollegiate athletes, Barbara Moenich LoPiccolo mentored numerous students and teachers as a long-time physical educator and coach in the Norwich City Schools.

LoPiccolo arrived at Cortland in 1965 just prior to the advent of women’s intercollegiate athletic opportunities at the College. She played on intramural and class teams in field hockey, soccer, volleyball and basketball for three years and was a member of the club lacrosse team in 1968-69. In her senior year, she played guard on Cortland’s intercollegiate women’s basketball team and outfield on the intercollegiate softball squad.

LoPiccolo was active in Officials’ Club for three years and both the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) and Intramural Board for two years. Outside the sports world, she was a member of Theta Phi Sorority from 1966-69. She was president in 1968 and house president in 1969. In addition, she volunteered with adapted physical education classes in her junior and senior years.

The fall after her graduation, LoPiccolo began teaching and coaching in the Norwich City Schools. She taught physical education from 1969-2003, coached varsity field hockey, soccer, softball and basketball from 1969-78, and coached swimming from 1981-89. She also resumed as softball coach from 1997-99 and coached basketball at Sherburne-Earlville High School from 1994-97.

From 1990-2003, LoPiccolo mentored new teachers at Norwich. Also during her tenure, she supervised BOCES students in a physical education field experience and was a district trainer for staff members in lifeguard training, water safety and CPR. She has served as a nationally certified swim official since 1990.

LoPiccolo has worked as an instructor for the Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross for more than 30 years and was a board member from 1992-99. She’s also been involved with activities at the YMCA of Norwich and with cancer outreach programs for the Chenango Health Network. Since 2006, she has been an adjunct physical education professor and assistant track and field throws coach at SUNY Oneonta.

UPDATE- March, 2015: LoPiccolo has achieved USATF Masters National Throws Pentathlon Champion in August of 2011. She volunteers her time at the YMCA on the Board of Directors as Secretary from 2010 to 2012 and as the Chair of the Program Committee.,She,volunteered at the College of Liberal Arts Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration by running a Pickle Ball Clinic in January of 2012.