GCI Relay Hands Baton to New Race Director
Industry: Health & Fitness
We are excited to announce that GCI Relay is now under the new guidance of Race Director, Anthony “Nino” D’Onofrio.
Gulf Coast, USA (PRUnderground) December 21st, 2013
Happy Holiday’s GCI Relay Family! We hope you’re all having a warm, safe, fun and fit holiday season! (No pressure on that fit part…for now).
We have huge news!
Befitting the New Year’s focus on growth and renewal, we are excited to announce that GCI Relay is now under the new guidance of Race Director, Anthony “Nino” D’Onofrio. The management transition is in full partnership with Founder, Sarah Sadd, and is effective immediately.
“This race was my baby, and when I knew the time had come for me to hand over the baton, I waited to find the right person with the right experience, who would approach GCI with the same mentality, experience, heart and sweat equity that I put into it,” said Sadd. “Nino was introduced by a mutual friend who a fellow Race Director, and he is a graduate of The United States Sports Academy, one of our most important sponsors. It was just a positive, productive meeting of the minds from the start. I couldn’t be more confident that GCI and its teams, volunteers and sponsors are in the best of hands for 2014.”
Meet Nino: Dedicated Athlete, Race Director, and Dad
Nino D’Onofrio, GCI’s new leader, has a long history of competitions, coaching, and sports academics. Nino graduated from Salem State College in Salem, MA with a B.S in Sports Management. In 1997, he obtained a Master of Sport Science from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Al (aka, major GCI Sponsor). He has interned with The Las Vegas Stars, AAA Baseball Club, the Las Vegas Thunder, IHL Hockey, and New England Hockey Institute. In 1997 he was also an event manager for the Annual Spring Swing Classic Golf Tournament in Fairhope, AL. Nino has also taught Health & Physical Education in Massachusetts for 10 years and coached High School Ice Hockey, Cross country, and Girls Softball. In 2008 and 2009, he was the Director for “Sebastian’s on Broadway” Golf Tournament to benefit Flutie Foundation for Autism.
“It is a great opportunity to continue the GCI Relay Race in 2014 and beyond,” Nino says. “Having graduated from the US Sports Academy and worked different events in the Gulf Coast region, I am excited to get back and make the 2014 race a great success. I can’t thank Sarah Sadd enough for all of her hard work and dedication in making a smooth transition with the race operations. Together I know we will help make the 2014 GCI Relay Race a great event and we welcome back all 2013 race competitors and welcome new teams.”
“Since our time together in Alabama, Anthony shared his passion and enthusiasm for sport and education,” says Scott Novack, Director of High Performance U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation. “I have known Anthony as a colleague where he has served in many leadership roles and has been an outstanding coach in a number of different sports. Through the years he has helped me with guidance and advice when I was dealing with different Olympic level coaches and issues. As a friend, Anthony has been the most loyal and dedicated people I have ever known.”
“This past year (2012), I was able to have Anthony D’Onofrio help me with the 4th Annual Capital to Coast Relay. He came down from Boston a week early to help me with the pre race set up, the Captain’s Meeting, as well as the after race events. It was wonderful to be able to give him a task and know that it was done and done correctly. His sports event background made him a huge and valuable asset and I was grateful for his help. I would highly recommend him to be able to put on a first class event in the Gulf Coast.”
Nino is, wouldn’t you guess it, an avid runner and has competed in multiple 5/10k, triathlons, half marathons, and distance swimming events. Most recently, he ran in the 2013 Capitol 2 Coast Relay Race in Austin, Texas, and placed first at the Mighty Merrimack 1 mile swim race in Lowell, MA. Nino currently lives in Northern Massachusetts has two daughters Isabella and Mia.
About Gulf Coast Interstate Relay
GCI Relay is the first ever, cycling relay AND overnight running relay. It’s 263 miles from New Orleans, Louisiana to Pensacola Beach, Florida. It’s beautiful. It’s beachy. It’s badass. April 4-6, 2014. Cross four states during the longest relay in the South. The ONLY relay where you choose your sport. Run or Ride.
