Frank DiPiano ’01 Heads Up Athletics

Family Legacy Continues at The Hive

Head Wrestling Coach, Administrator and Physical Education Teacher Frank DiPiano ’01 became Athletic Director of The Hive in June. His appointment follows the departure of Tom Leahy ’77, who served eight years as A.D. before moving to the Office of Advancement. “I’m excited for the opportunity to carry the legacy of the people before me who were in this seat,” said Mr. DiPiano, who was inducted into the St. Benedict’s Prep Hall of Fame in 2018.  

One of the new A.D.’s biggest role models are his parents, Mike “Big D” DiPiano Sr. H’82, who spent 30 years at The Hive as Head Wrestling Coach and Athletic Director, and Karen DiPiano H’01, who worked in athletic administration. “My father is everything to me. Watching what he did in coaching and the way he molded kids and the family that he has with his wrestlers. It’s one big family. I had a great guy to look up to,” Mr. DiPiano told the Kearny Observer.

The Nutley native returned to The Hive in 2015 after more than a decade successfully leading the wrestling program at Nutley High School. He became Head Wrestling Coach at The Hive in 2019. The team placed 12th out of 128 teams at the national wrestling championship last year and three of Mr. DiPiano’s wrestlers came home as All-Americans.