Porterville College President Dr. Rosa Carlson and Vice President of Student Services Val Garcia have announced the hiring of Joe Cascio as the college’s new Director of Athletics and Student Programs.
Cascio comes to Porterville after serving as Director of Athletics at Long Beach City College. Prior to LBCC, Joe directed the athletic programs at Santa Monica College.
He also served as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Monica and most recently served as associate head coach of the SMC men’s basketball team from 2007-2010.
Cascio brings over 20 years of coaching experience ranging from high school, AAU, and college to LBCC.
“I bring 5 years of experience in Athletics administration, a lengthy high school and college basketball coaching career, as well as a passion for student success,” Cascio said. “I feel that athletics provides students that would maybe not otherwise go to college, a pathway to higher education.”
Cascio earned his Masters of Arts in Physical Education Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2008 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2007.
He was also a student in the California community college system and earned an Associate of Arts degree in physical education from El Camino College in 2005.
Cascio, his wife Yolanda and their three children hail from Redondo Beach, Calif.
His oldest daughter Jessica, is a senior at Long Beach State this fall, daughter Marissa is starting her sophomore year at Long Beach City and son Jackson is a senior at Redondo Union High School. Cascio will oversee the Porterville College Athletics Department and student programs such as Associated Students of PC (ASPC).
“I love the connection with the students, faculty and staff that comes with the community college experience,” Cascio said. “It is very satisfying to see at-risk students get the opportunity to go to college. For many, it’s a life-changing experience and something that’s not often seen at the university level..”