TAMPA, Fla. ? USF men's basketball head coach Stan Heath announced the hiring of Tommy Tonelli as Director of Operations.

Tonelli is returning to the USF fold after serving 10 highly successful years as the head coach at Wharton high school in Tampa.  He was the only coach in the 10-year history of the Wildcats and helped make the program one of the best in the state.

“Tommy Tonelli is a terrific addition and natural fit in our program,” said Heath.  “His success as a player, USF assistant coach and high school coach will add a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to our players, staff and the USF community.

“Tommy's will have on-campus responsibilities and will assist a wide range of areas on our staff.”

Tonelli was a three-year starter at USF during his career (1982-86).  He earned the Sun Belt Conference Jerry D. Young Memorial Award in 1986 for “exemplifying sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.”

He also served as a team captain for former head coach Lee Rose in during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons.

He began his coaching career at USF in 1986 as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to part-time assistant in 1998 and held that position until 1991.  He was a full-time assistant coach from 1991-96.

“USF is my hometown school and I have always had the strongest feelings for the University,” said Tonelli.  “This is a tremendous opportunity to rejoin the Bulls team and assist in its rise within the BIG EAST.  I can't thank Coach Heath or Athletic Director Doug Woolard enough for this opportunity.”

During his coaching tenure at USF, he helped guide the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament in 1990 and 1992 and the NIT Tournament in 1991 and 1995.

The 1992 team finished in second place in the Metro Conference and claimed wins over nationally ranked Florida State, Iowa, Louisville and Tulane.

The 1991 squad was the first in USF history to reach the NCAA Tournament after claiming a Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship.  The squad was the most improved in Division I that season, going from 7-21 the previous year to 20-11.

Tonelli also brings some marketing savy to the board.  He served as a marketing and promotions assistant at USF from 1996-97 before helping start the boy's basketball program at Wharton.

Tonelli earned his high school degree from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois.  He was named into the high school's hall of fame in 1998.

He has a master degree from USF in counselor education and a bachelor of arts with distinction in American Studies.

Tonelli replaces Darren Sorenson, who took an assistant coaching position at the Oakland University in Michigan.