Women's Track & Field
Tony Ciarelli
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- aciarell@uci.edu
- Phone:
- (949) 824 - 6080
- Office:
- 102-IAB
Tony CiarelliΒ entersΒ his seventhΒ year as an assistant throws coach with the UC Irvine track & field program in 2026-27.
Since Ciarelli joined the staff in 2021, the UCI throws squad has produced nine individual Big West titles, 27Β all-conference awards, 24Β NCAA West First Round qualifying marks, and one All-American.
Β
Last year, the Anteater women won their second-straight Big West Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The throwers combined for 32 points, led by Nyla Baker, who claimed the conference title in the shot put. Baker qualified for the NCAA West First Round in both the shot put and discus. She was joined at the regional meet by Darrin Campbell (Javelin), DeAna Davis (Hammer), Joe Duggan (Discus), and Giselle Rodriguez (Javelin). During the indoor campaign, UC Irvine also won its first MPSF Womenβs Indoor Track & Field Championship with 132.5 points. Baker earned a podium finish in the shot put.
Β
In 2025, the womenβs throws squad helped the βEaters win the programβs first Big West Championship, scoring 27 points in the four events. On the menβs side, Liam Miksic won his third-straight conference title in the javelin where he broke his own school record with a mark of 71.06 meters (233-1). Miksic was one of five UC Irvine throwers to qualify for the NCAA West First Round, and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships with a 12th-place finish. Miksic went on to earn second-team All-America honors.
Β
In 2024, the UCI menβs throws squad had a banner season, winning three of the four throwing events and accounting for 48 of the teamβs 89 points at the Big West Championships. They also established three school records. Miksic defended his conference crown in the javelin before breaking the school record with a toss of 68.34 meters (224-2) at the NCAA West First Round. Justin Willingham set the program standard four times in the shot put with the last coming in an individual victory at the Big West Championships where he hit 18.74m (61-5.75). Jacob Hawkins was also the conference champion in the discus and broke a 41-year-old school record earlier in the year with a best of 59.03m (193-8) at the Challenge Cup.
Β
On the womenβs side, Deandra Tyler earned her third career All-Big West award with a runner-up finish in the shot put. Tyler tied for first but ended up taking second based on her next best throw. She was also the MPSF Indoor Champion in the shot put. Nyla Baker added an All-Big West performance during the outdoor season, placing third in the shot put at the conference meet.
Β
Five student-athletes qualified for the 2024 NCAA West First Round - Hawkins (Shot Put & Discus), Mikisic (Javelin), Logan Peyton (Javelin), Tyler (Shot Put) and Willingham (Shot Put & Discus).
Β
In 2023, Ciarelli helped mentor Miksic, who won the program's first Big West championship in the men's javelin and qualified for the NCAA regional meet for the second year in a row.
In 2022,Β CiarelliΒ worked withΒ Noah Holm, who was the Big West men's shot put champion and third-place finisher in the discus.Β Miksic was also third in the men's javelin, while Kassidy Sani (Javelin) and Deandra Tyler (Shot Put) claimed runner-up honors in their respective events on the women's side. Holm, Miksic and Sani advanced to the NCAA West Prelims.
In 2021, Ciarelli helped coach the Anteater throwers to five All-Big West honors, including two individual conference titles. Kyle Tsu won the men's shot put, while Brianna Villanueva took home the women's discus crown. Villanueva, who was also an all-conference performer in the hammer, was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Meet. In addition, Tsu and Jack Pickard (Javelin) qualified for the NCAA West First Round.
Β
Ciarelli is a seasoned and accomplished throws coach with over 40 years of experience, coaching both high school and professional athletes. He has helped individuals achieve their goals from high school championships to the Olympics.
Β
Ciarelli was previously the throws coach at Newport Harbor High School, while he also served in the same capacity at Huntington Beach High School and Edison High School. He mentored six California State Champions (4 discus, 2 shot put), 33 state medalists, and 52 state qualifiers.
Β
Ciarelli is a USAW Level 4 International Strength Coach.
Since Ciarelli joined the staff in 2021, the UCI throws squad has produced nine individual Big West titles, 27Β all-conference awards, 24Β NCAA West First Round qualifying marks, and one All-American.
Β
Last year, the Anteater women won their second-straight Big West Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The throwers combined for 32 points, led by Nyla Baker, who claimed the conference title in the shot put. Baker qualified for the NCAA West First Round in both the shot put and discus. She was joined at the regional meet by Darrin Campbell (Javelin), DeAna Davis (Hammer), Joe Duggan (Discus), and Giselle Rodriguez (Javelin). During the indoor campaign, UC Irvine also won its first MPSF Womenβs Indoor Track & Field Championship with 132.5 points. Baker earned a podium finish in the shot put.
Β
In 2025, the womenβs throws squad helped the βEaters win the programβs first Big West Championship, scoring 27 points in the four events. On the menβs side, Liam Miksic won his third-straight conference title in the javelin where he broke his own school record with a mark of 71.06 meters (233-1). Miksic was one of five UC Irvine throwers to qualify for the NCAA West First Round, and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships with a 12th-place finish. Miksic went on to earn second-team All-America honors.
Β
In 2024, the UCI menβs throws squad had a banner season, winning three of the four throwing events and accounting for 48 of the teamβs 89 points at the Big West Championships. They also established three school records. Miksic defended his conference crown in the javelin before breaking the school record with a toss of 68.34 meters (224-2) at the NCAA West First Round. Justin Willingham set the program standard four times in the shot put with the last coming in an individual victory at the Big West Championships where he hit 18.74m (61-5.75). Jacob Hawkins was also the conference champion in the discus and broke a 41-year-old school record earlier in the year with a best of 59.03m (193-8) at the Challenge Cup.
Β
On the womenβs side, Deandra Tyler earned her third career All-Big West award with a runner-up finish in the shot put. Tyler tied for first but ended up taking second based on her next best throw. She was also the MPSF Indoor Champion in the shot put. Nyla Baker added an All-Big West performance during the outdoor season, placing third in the shot put at the conference meet.
Β
Five student-athletes qualified for the 2024 NCAA West First Round - Hawkins (Shot Put & Discus), Mikisic (Javelin), Logan Peyton (Javelin), Tyler (Shot Put) and Willingham (Shot Put & Discus).
Β
In 2023, Ciarelli helped mentor Miksic, who won the program's first Big West championship in the men's javelin and qualified for the NCAA regional meet for the second year in a row.
In 2022,Β CiarelliΒ worked withΒ Noah Holm, who was the Big West men's shot put champion and third-place finisher in the discus.Β Miksic was also third in the men's javelin, while Kassidy Sani (Javelin) and Deandra Tyler (Shot Put) claimed runner-up honors in their respective events on the women's side. Holm, Miksic and Sani advanced to the NCAA West Prelims.
In 2021, Ciarelli helped coach the Anteater throwers to five All-Big West honors, including two individual conference titles. Kyle Tsu won the men's shot put, while Brianna Villanueva took home the women's discus crown. Villanueva, who was also an all-conference performer in the hammer, was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Meet. In addition, Tsu and Jack Pickard (Javelin) qualified for the NCAA West First Round.
Β
Ciarelli is a seasoned and accomplished throws coach with over 40 years of experience, coaching both high school and professional athletes. He has helped individuals achieve their goals from high school championships to the Olympics.
Β
Ciarelli was previously the throws coach at Newport Harbor High School, while he also served in the same capacity at Huntington Beach High School and Edison High School. He mentored six California State Champions (4 discus, 2 shot put), 33 state medalists, and 52 state qualifiers.
Β
Ciarelli is a USAW Level 4 International Strength Coach.
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