Sophomore Dayana Octavien was named Conference USA Athlete of the Week for her record-setting performance last weekend at the Carolina Elite Invitational meet in Chapel Hill. Octavien won the weight throw with a distance of 59 feet, 10.5 inches, which provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships.

Bulls ranked in Top 25

The USF softball team is ranked No. 25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll. The Bulls finished the 2001 season with a 43-34 record and a final ranking of No. 21. USF received an at-large bid into the NCAA Regionals and lost to Michigan in the regional final, upsetting host No. 7 Alabama along the way. The Bulls begin the 2002 season Feb. 1 at home.

Athletics department hires Tomaino

Longtime USF employee Joe Tomaino has been named senior major gifts officer in the athletics department, Athletics Director Lee Roy Selmon announced Wednesday.

Tomaino’s main task will be to raise funds for the proposed athletics complex and existing campus sports venues.

“There may be no one on our campus who has a better historical perspective of USF than Joe Tomaino,” said Selmon. “He understands where this university has been, where it is at, and where it needs to grow in the future. We’re extremely excited that he will join our athletic department team and lead the effort to fund the future growth necessary to provide our student-athletes with a rewarding college experience.”

Tomaino began working at the university in 1966, when he was assistant director for the USF Learning Center, a counseling and job placement program for at-risk youth.

“Since 1966, I have seen this university grow from one that rarely even spoke of a potential athletic program to one that enjoys an outstanding Division I football program and membership in Conference USA, one of the nation’s top conferences,” Tomaino said. “I have followed that growth from the very beginning, and I have always had an eye on helping the program move forward. This is a very exciting period in the history of USF athletics, and I am excited to hit the ground running to assure even better times ahead.”

Tomaino’s position is newly created and will be funded and supported by the USF Foundation. His appointment takes effect March 1.

• Staff Report