ITHACA, N.Y. – Ithaca College women's wrestling head coach Ryan Ciotoli has announced the addition of Joel Ferrara as an assistant coach on Wednesday morning.
 
"We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Coach Ferrara to Ithaca College," said Ciotoli. "We've worked together for many years in club wrestling and have coached side-by-side with elite athletes. His experience will accelerate the growth and development of our program, and most importantly, he is a person of integrity and character—exactly the kind of role model we want our student-athletes to learn from."
 
Ferrara, who is no stranger to the area, brings over 30 years of coaching experience. He previously served as the men's wrestling head coach at SUNY Cortland (2000–02), Whitney Point High School, and the Empire Elite Wrestling Club. He is also a member of the NYUSA Schoolboy Coaching Staff.
 
"I am really excited to work with Coach Ciotoli again," said Ferrara. "We have coached together on multiple occasions, and I feel like we work really well together. I am truly grateful to be a part of IC's women's programs launch and have an opportunity to mentor, and coach these athletes and build something from the grass roots."

As a collegiate wrestler, Ferrara earned the Most Improved Award at Cortland in 1994. Over the course of his career, he was an Empire Conference Champion, an All-State Wrestler, and a national qualifier. His son, Tyler Ferrara, is currently a sophomore competing at 133 pounds for nearby Cornell University, where he arrived after winning two NYSPHSAA State Championships at Chenango Forks High School.
 
Ithaca women's wrestling is gearing up for its first season as a varsity program.