Marino has helped the Pioneers evolve into a solid and competitive program as they enter their fifth season as members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), arguably one of the top-lacrosse conferences in the country. Since the transition to Division I began in the 1999 season, the goal of the Pioneers has been to compete for a league championship and an NCAA berth each season. Playing a hard-nosed and enthusiastic style, the Pioneers reflect the work ethic and competitive traits of Mariano.
With the move up to the Colonial Athletic Association in 2002, the Pioneers have fielded an up-tempo offense, a tough, aggressive midfield and closed defense. After a solid 7-9 mark in their inaugural Division I season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2000, in which a young team lost four conference games by a total of five goals, the Pioneers came back and posted an 8-8 overall mark (7-2, MAAC) in 2001. This earned the Pioneers their first-ever MAAC Lacrosse League tournament appearance.
Prior to coming to Sacred Heart, Mariano was the head coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. A native of Ossining, NY, he is a graduate of Ossining High School. In 1994 he graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Golden Flyers to the 1992 Division III national championship.
During his junior and senior seasons, Nazareth lost in the national semi-finals. As a senior, Mariano was one of the top long-stick midfielders in the country and was named an alternate for the Division III North / South All-Star game. During the summer, Mariano is the Director of the Nike Lacrosse Camp at Sacred Heart University, and also serves on numerous coaching staffs at lacrosse summer camps throughout the Northeast.
Mariano earned his Master's of Art in Teaching, specializing in Elementary Education, at Sacred Heart in 2000. He and his wife, Alison and daughters Jordyn and Ryanne, reside in Stratford, CT.
