Bishop Guilfoyle Academy announced A.J. Labriola, a 2018 graduate of the school, was named the new director of athletics on Tuesday.

The position is a new one at Guilfoyle that “aims to create an enhanced, aligned and integrated preschool through Grade 12 athletics and wellness program.”

“A.J. epitomizes Bishop Guilfoyle’s ethical code of goodness, discipline and knowledge,” Bishop Guilfoyle Chief Education Officer Robert Gildea said. “I am confident, with his experience and vision, that he will continue to advance Bishop Guilfoyle athletics and further develop an innovative preschool through Grade 12 wellness program to benefit all students.”

Joe Landolfi, who has served as Bishop Guilfoyle’s athletic director since 2020, will remain part of the BG athletic department in an advisory role.

“A.J. Labriola is an excellent choice to fill the new position of Preschool-Grade 12 Director of Athletics,” Landolfi said. “I couldn’t have handpicked a better choice. As BG unifies academics and now athletics under the Academy nameplate, I look forward to helping A.J. transition into this new role.”

Labriola was part of the Division I men’s basketball team at Saint Francis and graduated from the school in 2022.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history with a concentration in secondary education, social studies and minor in religious studies.

“I’m just really honored that BG thought of me for this position,” Labriola said. “It’s a place that really helped me grow as a person from a really young age. I had a lot of great role models and mentors that really helped mold me as a person — not only an athlete but a person — and I’m honored they thought of me for this position. I’m thankful to be part of the community.”

Labriola taught and coached for two years in the Spring Cove School District before assuming his current role with Saint Francis University as Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Leadership and Development.

“I want to thank Saint Francis,” Labriola said. “I’m grateful for what they have done for me, but I’m extremely excited to be part of the BG community and be back in that community and be around these kids and coaches that put so much effort into making BG a great place.”

Labriola is the grandson of former Altoona area basketball coach and teacher Tony Labriola, who died in July.

“I am excited to welcome A.J. as the leader of our athletics and wellness program,” Bishop Guilfoyle Junior and Senior High Principal Michael Cacciotti said. “As an alumnus, A.J. brings an understanding of our traditions and has a strong vision for our growth for our aligned preschool through Grade 12 school system. Our entire student body and school community will benefit from A.J.’s presence and leadership.”

As Landolfi transitions at BG, he reflected on leading the school through a period that saw many changes and successes.

“When then-assistant principal Mike Cacciotti called me in July of 2020 and told me BG had a situation and asked if I would come to school and perform athletic director duties, little did I know the incredible ride I would take. Starting off in the middle of the COVID pandemic, when no one knew the future of anything let alone athletics, was a challenge unlike any other,” Landolfi said. “With the steadfast guidance of President Joe Adams, Principal Joan Donnelly, and Mike, together we withstood that situation. And not only did we hold our own, but boys golf won the LHAC championship in the fall of 2020, and girls basketball won a Class 1A state championship in the spring of 2021. Not a bad start under less-than-ideal circumstances. And it only got better from there.”

From there, BG’s girls basketball team won back-to-back state titles in 2024 and 2025, the girls soccer team won three District 6 titles and played in this year’s PIAA championship game and football won the state championship in 2021 and 2024 and made the final this season.

The baseball team won a District 6 title in 2023, boys golf won its first District 6 title this season and the school launched a rifle club.

“I am proud to be part of arguably the greatest period of success in the storied history of Bishop Guilfoyle athletics,” Landolfi said. “I was blessed to watch some of the finest all-around athletes to ever attend school at BG and perform in their arenas of competition. But I was especially blessed to have worked alongside people like Joe Adams, Joan Donnelly, Mike Cacciotti and for the past few months Bob Gildea.”

Under Landolfi, BG basketball also returned to play games at the Jaffa Shrine and had games at Penn State Altoona.

“One often hears of the strength and unity of the BG community,” Landolfi said. “I was thrilled to experience first-hand the warmth, camaraderie and love of everyone I met. I will forever cherish the moments as athletic director at Bishop Guilfoyle and look forward to continuing as part of that amazing environment.”

Perhaps the biggest change was the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference’s expansion to now include most of the mid-sized schools in District 6.

“I was proud to be part of the expansion of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference into one of the most powerful and competitive Conferences in the commonwealth,” Landolfi said.

Labriola said he appreciates having a helping hand to get started with.

“I’m extremely excited about that, because Joe has been extremely influential in the BG community,” Labriola said. “He’s also someone who has been influential in my life from a young age, especially in the sport of basketball. I’m excited to work with Joe. At first it’s going to be a lot of relationship building and learning.

“It’s going to be working with a lot of members of the school community, but I’m excited to be as present as I possibly can be and help these student athletes develop not only when they are playing but to prepare for life after sports and being the best people they can be.”