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JOHN A. 'JACK' LEIPHEIMER '74 NAMED THIEL COLLEGE
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
For immediate release January 29, 2001
GREENVILLE, Pa. - John A. "Jack" Leipheimer has agreed to leave behind 17 years of
coaching at Allegheny College to return to his alma mater as Thiel's new head football coach.
 Announced at a press conference Monday afternoon by Thiel President and CEO Dr. Lance A. Masters, Leipheimer
- a 1974 graduate of Thiel and defensive coordinator for neighboring Allegheny College's football team - is the
28th head coach dating back to the college's inception of the sport in 1892.
Leipheimer replaces David A. Armstrong who resigned Dec. 31 after guiding the Tomcats to an 8-42 mark in the last
five seasons.
"Jack Leipheimer is the man who will lead us into greatness," Masters said at the press conference. "We're
stepping up the pace and kicking it up a notch, and Jack is just the person to lead our team."
"He will inspire our players," Masters told members of the media, administration, staff, faculty and
current football players. "You'll find he's a flexible leader, teacher and a remarkably committed man."
 Leipheimer has over 25 years of coaching experience. He has served as Allegheny's defensive coordinator
since 1989, and also served as the team's assistant defensive coach from 1984 to 1988. Leipheimer gained head coaching
experience while coaching the Kennedy Christian High School football team in Hermitage, Pa., from 1979 to 1984.
From 1976 to 1979 he served as defensive coordinator at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
Leipheimer will retain three members of Thiel's current coaching staff: Frank Amato, Chris Merritt, and Clyde Morgan.
Leipheimer has hand-selected two others to round out his coaching staff: John Marzka and Kurt Reiser, both former
players at Allegheny.
"I'm going to strive to help these athletes reach their full potential," Leipheimer
said. "I want these players to say that playing football at Thiel was the most positive and influential experience
they had."
Leipheimer, who says he "plans on being here a while," understands that he is inheriting a Tomcat squad
that has seen better days.
"I know you are dedicated, I know you want to win, that there is more to winning than what the scoreboard
says," Leipheimer told the football players in attendance. "We're going to win in a lot of different
areas, and I'm going to help you get there."
And the qualities needed to reach that destination?
"Commitment, dedication, loyalty and enthusiasm," he said.
Originally from Sharon, Pa., Leipheimer was a quarterback for the Hickory High School football team. He was a four-year
letterman and starter while at Thiel, punting and playing tight end.
Leipheimer and his wife, Patti, reside in Meadville. They have two daughters, Shanna and Krista.
Thiel is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and participates as a member of
the Presidents' Athletic Conference, which consists of Bethany (W. Va.), Grove City, Westminster, Washington &
Jefferson, and Waynesburg colleges.
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THIEL TO HOST WOMEN'S FORUM JAN. 31
For immediate release January 24, 2001
GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College's Center for Women's Leadership, with support from the Thiel
Women's Club, will sponsor "The Mary Haaland Women's Forum" from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the
Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.
Named in recognition of Mary Haaland - the college's First Lady from 1990 to 1998 - and her service to the college
and her support of the Thiel Women's Club, the purpose of the event is to introduce current students to successful
young alumnae. Dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in today's workplace will be encouraged.
Nearly 60 students and five alumnae will participate in the program. The alumnae panelists will be:
· Kelly Zahniser Diley, class of 1997, intensive care manager for the Behavioral Health Commission in Mercer
· Carly Altomonte Miller, class of 1996, communications director for the Episcopal Diocese of Erie
· Erin Gabany Ellis, class of 1999, case manager for the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging
· Billie Jo Baughman, class of 1999, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation
· Jen Siege, class of 1993, accountant with Hill, Barth & King
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Marianne Calenda, assistant dean
for leadership programs and director of special events, at (724) 589-2028.
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THIEL CELEBRATES FOUNDERS' DAY FEB. 1
For immediate release January 24, 2001
GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College will celebrate its 135th anniversary by remembering its rich
heritage Thursday, Feb. 1, during a special Founders' Day convocation. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. in
the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center (HMSC).
Eight employees will be honored during the ceremony - five faculty members and three staff employees.
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The faculty members are:
· Dr. Joyce Cuff, the Paul M. Rike professor of life sciences, will be honored with the Professor of the Year Award. She
is a resident of Jamestown.
· Dr. Christopher Moinet, professor of English, will receive the Distinguished Service Faculty Award. He is a resident of Greenville.
· Dr. Gregory Peterson, assistant professor of religion, will receive the Distinguished Scholar Award. He resides in Greenville.
· Dr. Mark DelMaramo, associate professor of English, will receive the Distinguished Teacher Award. DelMaramo lives in Greenville.
· Dr. Sara Lightner, German instructor, will receive the Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award. She lives in New Wilmington,
Pa.
Receiving staff honors will be:
· Jeffrey Taylor, Thiel College's financial controller, will receive the Distinguished Service - Salaried Employee Award.
Taylor resides in Greenville.
· Patricia L. Cullen, assistant director of maintenance and housekeeping, will receive the Distinguished Service - Hourly
Employee Award. She lives in Greenville.
· Dolores Harrison, a member of the food service staff, will be honored with the Distinguished Service - Part-time Employee
Award. She lives in Jamestown.
A reception in the rotunda area of the HMSC will follow the ceremony. All events are free and open to the public.
Thiel College was founded in 1866. Named after Louis and Barbara Thiel, the college is affiliated with the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
Contact Jennie Travaglini, coordinator of special events, at (724) 5898-2240 for additional information regarding
the Founders' Day activities.
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THIEL HOLDS 'A NIGHT
WITH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'
For immediate release January 11, 2001
 GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College will commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 18, with a fine arts production, "A Night with Dr. Martin Luther King."
Singer, actor and freelance writer Samuel G. Irving of Dammah
Productions will perform a one-act play, "Reliving the Dream in the New Millennium." The drama - written,
produced and performed by Irving - is an informative and entertaining rendition of historical and biographical
information on the life of the late civil rights leader.
Irving will weave a tapestry of the social, political and
religious attitudes that pervaded society during the 1960s by using excerpts from King's writings, speeches, spiritual
and gospel music, as well as songs from the Civil Rights era.
Sponsored by the college's office of multicultural affairs,
the performing arts department and the Organization of Black Collegiates, the program will be held at 7:30 p.m.
in the college's Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.
The event is free and open to the public.
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THIEL HEAD FOOTBALL
COACH RESIGNS
For immediate release December 28, 2000
GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College Head Football Coach and Athletics
Director David Armstrong has resigned from both positions effective Dec. 31.
Armstrong - who submitted a letter of resignation to the
college Wednesday, Dec. 27 - joined the Thiel coaching staff in 1996 as the college's 27th head football coach,
replacing former coach Charlie Giangrosso.
"Dave Armstrong did everything the college asked of him -
from building a stronger collegiate athletics program to serving as interim director of admissions," said Thiel
College President and CEO Dr. Lance A. Masters. "He served with loyalty and passion. We are sad to see him go,
but wish him well in all of his endeavors."
Armstrong's letter of resignation said, "I have achieved
many goals at Thiel, and now it is time for me to pursue other opportunities through which I can be successful
in all my goals. I have left Thiel better than I found it, but it is time for new leadership. I am grateful for
the opportunities I had to make wonderful friends for life, and to make a difference in the lives of students."
Under Armstrong's tenure as head coach, members of the Thiel
Football team traveled to Germany in 1999 to compete against Lansburg, a semi-professional team. The Tomcats defeated
the team 29-6. Armstrong's overall coaching record while at Thiel was 8-42.
The search for a new head football coach will begin immediately,
said Masters.
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