Tarinelli joined the USCGA Alumni Association in November of 2015 and oversees all aspects of Athletics Development including the Bear Club. He works collaboratively with the Director of Athletics to grow philanthropic support from annual and major gifts from alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy. Under his direction, by the close of 2018, total three-year fundraising from gifts and pledges grew 85% and surpassed $1,000,000 for the first time in program history.
He is responsible for various athletics special projects like the Alumni Association’s Elite Athlete Excellence Fund. Since 2018 the Elite Athlete Excellence Fund has provided more than $500,000 in direct assistance to young alumni in pursuit of Olympic competition in the sports of sailing and pistol. He manages the Otto Graham Athletic Legacy Fund and is responsible for the coordination of all content displayed within the Otto Graham Hall of Athletic Excellence inside Billard Hall. He is the Director of the Otto Graham Golf Classic, one of the Alumni Association’s premier annual events. This prestigious tournament has taken place at top course across the country such as Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Silverado Resort in Napa, Fishers Island Club on Fishers Island, and more.
As Director of Brand Licensing, Tarinelli ensures that the Academy’s brand is used appropriately by licensed vendors in accordance with the Academy’s Visual Identity Guidelines. He is the primary liaison between the Alumni Association and the Collegiate Licensing Company that helps manage, protect, and grow the Academy’s brand. He also oversees the partnership with Advance Online the company that runs the official online store CGABearGear.com. Revenues from these two programs generate approximately $50,000 in support of Athletics and Cadet Activities.
Prior to joining the USCGA Alumni Association, Tarinelli spent twelve years at the University of Rhode Island, ultimately as the Associate Director of Athletics Development for the URI Foundation. He helped grow annual giving to Athletics by 50% and surpass $1,000,000 annually for the first time in program history. He played a principal role in the Athletics portion of the $125,000,000 University of Rhode Island Making a Difference Campaign, including face to face visits leading to major gift closure in support of the $3,500,000 Ryan Family Student-Athlete Complex and other projects. He successfully led a $225,000 eight-week campaign to renovate the men’s basketball locker-room upon hiring of a new head coach. He also oversaw all aspects of the URI Athletics priority point system for basketball and football tickets.
Tarinelli spent two and a half years at the University of Connecticut as an Athletic Marketing Assistant. He was an account executive for corporate partners with annual contract values up to $50,000, planned game-day marketing activities for grand opening of Rentschler Field. He designed and executed game-day marketing plans for D1A football and hockey and assisted in game-day marketing operations for the NCAA National Champion men’s and women’s basketball teams. Tarinelli facilitated community outreach by processing requests for promotional activities including donation of autographed items and student-athlete and mascot appearances, in accordance with NCAA compliance.
From 1998 to 2001 Tarinelli served as the Assistant to the Director of Athletics for Operations & Marketing. He directed all tournaments including the America East Women’s Basketball Championship and oversaw all event operations with focus on Division I hockey, basketball, and soccer. During this time, he served on the America East Committee on Championship and Competition. He managed over thirty corporate sponsorship accounts, creatively designed and secured partnerships, and developed new sources of revenue.
Tarinelli holds an M.A. in Sport Management from the University of Connecticut and a B.S. in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont. He was a collegiate gymnast and coached men and women in gymnastics and diving. Trueson and his wife Robyn have three daughters, Emily, Sarah, and Kate.
(updated May 2025)
