June 27, 2003

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - At a press conference that was held on Wednesday, the University of Great Falls announced the hiring of Antonio Veloso as the new athletic director and head men's basketball coach.

University President Eugene McAllister announced that Veloso , a former assistant coach for the past four years at Santa Clara University, will assume duties of the athletic director and basketball coach beginning next week. He replaces former athletic director and head men's basketball coach Mike Geniesse, who resigned late last spring after three seasons.

"I knew Antonio would make a great head coach the day I met him," said University President Eugene McAllister. "He is organized, driven, and energetic. He prepared at Santa Clara University, a Division I program, under a highly respected head coach, Dick Davey. He was involved in all facets of the program, including recruiting. He has a passion for the game of basketball."

As an assistant, Veloso was involved in every aspect of the NCAA Division-I program, with emphasis on scouting, recruiting, opponent film exchange and academic monitoring. He also organized and managed the program's summer camp and manages the department's all-sports camps. He served as Santa Clara's team manager from 1993 to 1996.

Veloso began his coaching career at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, where he served as the Monarch's freshman and assistant varsity coach in 1996-97. He moved onto Menlo College in the fall of 1997, where he served as men's assistant basketball coach and head women's volleyball coach.

A native of San Francisco, Calif., Veloso, 29, graduated from Santa Clara in 1996 with a B.A. degree in philosophy.