Acunto named Deputy Athletics Director
8/1/2023 4:00:00 PM | General
By: Savannah Stoeckle / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
FRESNO, Calif. - Rob Acunto - the Ahtletics Director at Presbyterian College in Clinton - has been hired as Fresno State's deputy director of athletics, Fresno State director of athletics Terry Tumey announced on Tuesday.
Acunto brings over 25 years of experience in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics to Fresno State. He spent the last four years as Athletic Director at Presbyterian College (2019-23). He had prior stops at UTEP, The Citadel, American University, Cornell, and the Atlantic 10 Conference.
"I am excited to add Rob Acunto to the Bulldog family," said Director of Athletics Terry Tumey. "Rob has a myriad of different experiences throughout his career and his leadership will help to advance our athletic programs during an incredibly important time period as we continue our efforts with the Elevate campaign."
At Fresno State, Acunto will oversee all internal operations, including but not limited to compliance, academic services, human resources and personnel, and sports administration.
"I am honored and grateful that Terry Tumey has given me the opportunity to join Fresno State Athletics," said Acunto. "The University and Bulldog Athletics have big aspirations and are clearly on the rise, and I am excited to be part of a university, an athletics program and a city that embraces and celebrates a fearless, blue collar, and overachiever mindset."
During his time at Presbyterian College, Acunto put an emphasis on student-athlete success and academic achievement. That was exemplified by the student-athlete grade point average exceeding the general student population grade point average each semester since his arrival at PC. The Blue Hose also set a Big South Conference record for having seven teams earn NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards for having an APR score in the top 10% of their sport nationally. Additionally, over 60% of PC student-athletes have earned Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll recognition each year, and multiple sports programs and student-athletes have received national recognition for their outstanding academic achievement.
Immediately upon his arrival to PC, Acunto had to fill head coach vacancies in lacrosse and women's golf. In addition to those two successful hires, he has since hired seven other head coaches and brought on board high-performing administrators for corporate & ticket sales, marketing, strategic communications, compliance & academic services, sports medicine and video productions. Acunto has also prioritized student-athlete health, safety, and well-being, including the creation of a student-athlete nutritional fueling station and the addition of two athletic training positions.
Prior to his time at Presbyterian College, Acunto was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and External Operations at UTEP (2018-19). He spent the previous eight years in different roles with The Citadel's athletic department, beginning as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Academic Services in 2010 and working his way up the ranks to Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. Acunto was also called upon twice by The Citadel's president to serve as Interim Director of Athletics.
He had a brief stint as Assistant Commissioner for Business and Internal with the Atlantic 10 Conference (Dec. 2009 - April 2010). Before working at the A-10 conference, Acunto spent over five years (2004-09) at American University, including four years as the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Internal Operations. His time at AU also included serving as Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation for the entire 2006-07 academic year. In 2001, he transitioned from coaching to administration by becoming the Associate Director of Admissions/Athletics Liaison at Cornell University for three years.
Acunto served as a men's soccer coach at Vanderbilt, Bard College, and Springfield College. He played soccer collegiately at Southern Connecticut State University and Bryant College. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Bryant College in 1992. Acunto earned his master's degree in physical education/sports management from Springfield College in 1996.
A native of upstate New York, he and his wife Jennifer attended Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. Acunto was inducted into the BH-BL Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 in recognition of his extraordinary athletic accomplishments as a soccer student-athlete.
The Acunto File
2019-23 – Presbyterian College, Director of Athletics
2018-19 – University of Texas at El Paso, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development & External Relations
2016-18 – The Citadel, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations
2015-16 – The Citadel, Associate Athletic Director for External Operations
2017-2018; 2014 – The Citadel, Interim Director of Athletics
2013-2014 – The Citadel, Associate Athletic Director for Administration & Compliance
2010-13 – The Citadel, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Academic Services
2009-10 – Atlantic 10 Conference, Assistant Commissioner for Business & Internal Ops
2005-09 – American University, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance & Internal Ops
2006-07 – American University, Interim Director of Athletics & Recreation
2004-05 – American University, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance
2001-04 – Cornell University, Associate Director of Admissions/Athletics Liaison
"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate
