Steven Paternostro is in his third season as Director or Recruiting for both the track and cross country programs.
Paternostro comes to OU with an impressive coaching and collegiate career in track and field, as well as skills in many other areas. He was most recently at Trine University, as the Director of Admission for Engineering and Technology. Prior to Trine, Paternostro was the Assistant Women's Track and Field coach at the University of Toledo where he was a liaison for international student athletes, coached the heptathletes, and was mentored by Andrea Grove-McDonough, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at the University of Toledo.
Paternostro's first head coaching job was at Alfred State College, with no shortage of accolades from 2017-20. While at Alfred State, Paternostro led the women's cross country team to the institution's first-ever American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Championship. He led the men's cross country squad to back-to-back second-place finishes in the ACAA. He was also named 2017 and 2018 Coach of the Year. After leading the Pioneer men's track and field team to a second-place conference finish in 2019, Paternostro was named Colonial States Athletic Conference Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year. He also coached the school's first four Eastern College Athletic Conference champions in his time at Alfred State. Paternostro wore many hats, also serving as the Director of eSports and assisting with the women's soccer team for two seasons.
Prior to Alfred State, Paternostro was the Assistant Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field coach at Daemen College. At Daemen, Paternostro oversaw sprints, jumps, and lifting programs, coaching more than 11 school records.
Paternostro's coaching career began at his alma mater Edinboro University, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach for two years under supervision of USA Hall of Fame Coach Doug Watts. During his college track career at Edinboro, Paternostro was quite decorated in the decathlon, earning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and All-Atlantic Region First-Team as well as qualifying for NCAA DII Nationals. Prior to transferring to Edinboro, Paternostro was a NJCAA National Champion and All-American in the decathlon and 4X400m at Erie Community College.
