The IUP basketball teams take on UPJ in a PSAC doubleheader tonight. We’re on the air on 92.5 FM U92 at 5:15.
Five IUP football players have been named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators. Dinari Clacks, Parker Gregg, Matthew Nelson, Randy Okungu and Connor Shamany earned the recognition after posting at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and competing in a minimum of 70 percent of IUP’s games during the 2025 season. Okungu and Shamany were also All-PSAC selections this season.
IUP has also named Kernell Borneo as its new women’s soccer coach. He’s a former Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year who’s been at Fairmont State the last five seasons.
And Patrick Gildea, a SEC champion runner for the Tennessee Vols and ex-pro distance runner, is the new director of cross country and track and field at IUP. He’s been an assistant coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga since 2023.
MORE ON KERNELL BORNEO AND PATRICK GILDEA (courtesy IUP Athletics):
Former MEC Coach of the Year Kernell Borneo Named Head Coach of IUP Women’s Soccer
Kernell Borneo, a former Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year, has been named head coach of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer program, the university announced.
Borneo becomes the sixth head coach in program history after leading Fairmont State University for the past five seasons. During his tenure with the Falcons, he compiled a 56-31-14 overall record, including a 46-23-10 mark in MEC play, making him the winningest coach in program history. His teams captured conference championships in 2022 and 2025, along with a North Division title in 2025.
The 2025 season marked the most successful year of Borneo’s career, as Fairmont State finished 17-2-3 and claimed both the North Division and MEC championships. Borneo was named MEC Coach of the Year, while one of his senior defenders earned conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
“We are excited to welcome Kernell Borneo as the next leader of our women’s soccer program,” IUP Director of Athletics Todd Garzarelli said. “Coach Borneo’s track record for success, both on and off the playing surface over the past 20 years, speaks for itself. His ability to build championship programs, develop players and provide a great student-athlete experience really came through during the search process.”
Borneo said he is eager to join the IUP community and continue building a championship culture.
“I am honored to join IUP and be a part of a great university and athletic staff,” Borneo said. “I am grateful to Todd Garzarelli for his belief in me. We are aligned in our commitment to excellence both on and off the field. I believe in developing our student-athletes not only into the best players they can be, but also into strong leaders.”
Borneo’s teams established multiple program records at Fairmont State, including most consecutive shutouts, longest unbeaten streak, fewest goals allowed in conference play and most goals scored nationally in Division II during the 2025 season. He coached two All-Americans, six All-Region selections and 18 All-Conference honorees, along with one All-Freshman selection in each of his five seasons.
His teams also excelled academically, producing 70 Academic All-Conference selections, 35 NCAA Division II ADA Academic Award recipients and the program’s first Academic All-American in 2025. Fairmont State posted a team GPA of 3.5 or higher in all five seasons under Borneo, including a 3.7 GPA during the fall of 2025.
Borneo is United States Soccer Federation certified and holds an advanced national diploma. He brings more than 20 years of travel soccer coaching experience, with more than 35 state championships and three regional finals appearances, and has coached four Gatorade Players of the Year.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Borneo played collegiately at Missouri Baptist University and West Virginia University. After spending more than two decades in West Virginia, he said he is thankful for his time at Fairmont State and looks forward to recruiting throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding region as he begins his tenure with the Crimson Hawks.
Former SEC Champion Patrick Gildea Named Director of Cross Country and Track and Field
Patrick Gildea, a former NCAA Division I student-athlete and Southeastern Conference champion, has been named director of cross country and track and field at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the university announced.
Gildea most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga since 2023, where he helped elevate the Mocs’ men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs. Both programs recorded top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division I South Regional during the fall season.
“I am excited to bring my experiences to Indiana and the Crimson Hawk family,” Gildea said. “I am grateful to Todd Garzarelli and the search committee, who introduced me to the campus during the interview process.”
IUP Director of Athletics Todd Garzarelli said Gildea brings a proven record of success and leadership.
“I am proud to formally welcome Patrick to the IUP Department of Athletics,” Garzarelli said. “I’m confident in Patrick’s ability to restore the national prominence of our cross country and track and field programs.”
During his time at Chattanooga, Gildea recruited and mentored numerous student-athletes to personal-best performances, all-conference honors and individual conference championships. Among the highlights, Ryleigh Simmons became the first sprinter in program history to win the 100-meter title for the Mocs. Lesley Boyd and Maddie Wheatcroft finished first and third, respectively, in the 5,000-meter race, while Emma Thweatt earned Southern Conference all-freshman honors in the 10,000-meter during the 2025 outdoor season.
“Patrick is a very accomplished runner, recruiter and versatile coach who understands what it takes to build a championship culture without sacrificing a quality academic or student-athlete experience,” Garzarelli said.
Gildea competed collegiately at the University of Tennessee in the early 2000s, helping the Volunteers capture the 2002 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. He earned all-region honors in cross country in 2001 and 2002 and was named to the All-SEC Team. He was also selected as SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Week and earned Most Valuable Runner honors, scoring in every race of the season. Gildea received the Vega-Watts Award, presented for the greatest sacrifice in service to the team.
Following his collegiate career, Gildea competed professionally in track and field, placing in the top 10 in multiple events in 2008 and 2009. He earned international recognition with selections to International Association of Athletics Federations World Championship events in 2006 and 2008 and finished seventh in the 10,000 meters at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Gildea began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Saint Francis University from 2010-12, guiding student-athletes to multiple All-Northeast Conference honors. He later served as head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at West High School from 2012-20 while also teaching.
“Everyone had positive things to say about IUP and the Indiana community,” Gildea said. “I believe that IUP is a place where student-athletes can thrive and be successful. I am looking forward to working with coach Hanoj Carter and our student-athletes while continuing to build strong relationships within our program.”
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