Beaver Falls, PA – To say the past ten years in the Geneva athletic department has been successful would be a gross understatement. Under the leadership of Geno DeMarco, the Golden Tornadoes have been nothing short of excellent in and out of the athletic arena.
On Monday, Geneva′s athletic department officially entered into a new era with a changing of the guard at the top. Dr. Kim Gall, who served as head women′s basketball and tennis coach at Geneva from 1980-94, has been hired as the new athletic director. Gall, who also served as the women′s athletic director during her tenure at Geneva, comes to College Hill from Calvin College, where she was an assistant athletic director as well as serving as a professor of HPERDS (Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sport).
Geno DeMarco has served as athletic director since the spring of 1998. During his tenure, Geneva has seen significant facility improvement, as well as continued excellence on and off the field. In addition to becoming Geneva′s all-time leader in football coaching victories, DeMarco has seen most of his athletic teams reach goals of success, both on an individual basis and with team success. “We have accomplished great things in this department in the last ten years,” said DeMarco. “What I am most proud of are the relationships that have been built up and down the hallway. Our coaching staff has done a tremendous job with our student-athletes and I am looking forward to continuing those relationships as we move forward.”
DeMarco will continue his duties as head football coach, where he has compiled an overall record of 103-55 during his 15 years on the job.
Dr. Gall led Geneva′s women′s tennis team to the NAIA national tournament eight times, including four consecutive trips from 1985-88 and from 1991-94. Gall served as the head women′s tennis coach at Calvin from 1997-2000 as well as the head women′s basketball coach from 1999-2003. During her time at Geneva, Gall twice received the NAIA District 18 Athletic Administrator of the Year Award. Three times she was named the District Coach of the Year in tennis and once in basketball.
Dr. Gall received her Physical Education undergraduate degree from Cedarville University in 1978. Two years later, she picked up her Master′s Degree from the University of Dayton. In 1997, Gall received her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
“It is my hope and desire that separating the roles of athletic director and head coach of any sport will lead to the strengthening of the overall athletic program,” said Ken Carson, Geneva′s VP of Academic Affairs. “Geno (DeMarco) has been and continues to be a tremendous asset to Geneva College. I am hopeful that the split in these responsibilities will serve to strengthen the athletic department and allow Geno to continue his amazingly successful career as a football coach.”
“Geneva continues to strive to explore ways in which the deep truths of the Christian faith can and should influence all of life,” continued Carson. “Working on this high calling will be one of Dr. Gall′s primary tasks, just as it has been one of the primary tasks for Coach DeMarco. In addition, as resources and other priorities allow, the college will be exploring adding a major in Physical Education and related fields.”
Perhaps the biggest influences that coach DeMarco has had on Geneva during the past decade are the relationships built and cultivated with the student-athletes. It has been a continued priority to minister to the lives of men and women through athletics and Coach DeMarco has delivered the task with great success. Carson explained, “Chief among coach DeMarco′s assets is his intense desire that the student-athletes under his charge understand that their eternal spiritual condition is much more important than their fleeting athletic success and that they are first and foremost students and athletes second.”
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
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