Purchase College Athletics

Ernie Palmieri served as the Athletic Director of Purchase College from 1999 to 2011.

Affectionately referred to as the "architect" of PC Athletics, Palmieri guided the program to NCAA Division III status, membership in three conferences (HVIAC, NEAC and Skyline), and helped grow the department to 16 programs at the time of his departure.

He was instrumental in the creation and fundraising for the turf field in the late 2000's, with the location still serving as the home field for the lacrosse and soccer teams today.

Ernie was also considered a major voice in the Skyline Conference during his reign, with one of his major highlights being the hiring Linda Bruno as the Skyline Conference Commissioner in 2011. Bruno went on to reform the conference, making it into one of the most diverse conferences in the country.

During the final years of his leadership, the men's basketball team (2011) and the women's swim team (2009, 2011) won the first Skyline Conference Championships in the department's history to send him off in a big way.

Following his tenure in athletics, Palmieri was promoted to the role of Vice President of Student Affairs at Purchase College. He worked there from 2011-16, before calling it a career.

Before joining Purchase, Palmieri graduated from Ithaca College, where he played on the soccer team as a goalie, competed with the rowing team, and worked as a volunteer firefighter.