On February 26, 2002 Hawai'i Pacific University athletics director and head men's basketball coach Tony Sellitto, was listed on the Institute for International Sport's list of 15 Sports Ethics Fellows for 2002. The Institute selects Sports Ethics Fellows (SEF) to recognize those individuals who consistently demonstrate an interest in promoting the ideals of ethics and fair play in sport and society.

Sports Ethics Fellows are selected in conjunction with the Institute's National Sportsmanship Day (NSD) "Dare to Play Fair" program celebrated annually on the first Tuesday of March. As part of the twelfth annual event, to be held on Tuesday, March 5, more that 12,000 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries, will celebrate the importance of the ethics, honesty, peaceful conflict resolution and fair play in athletics and society.

"To be included on such a list with prestigious individuals, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, San Antonio Spurs player David Robinson, and New York Jets coach Herman Edwards, is quite an honor. However without a team there are no awards, you're only as good as your team. I'm sure Jeff Gordon wouldnšt be as successful in car racing if he didn't have a finely-tuned team. Same goes for basketball, football, and all other sports," said Sellitto.

Sellitto has served as HPUšs athletics director for the past 13 years and is the driving force behind the Sea Warriors emergence as a premier member of the NCAA Division II.

A native of West Orange, New Jersey, Sellitto received his bachelor's degree from Colorado College in 1961. He arrived in Hawai'i that same year, and, after a stint with the military police at Schofield Barrack's, Sellitto traded his army boots for basketball shoes. For 23 years Sellitto was the coach and athletics director at Maryknoll High School, where his basketball teams compiled a 374-71 record, and the 1984 state title.

In June of 1988, Sellitto joined Hawai'i Pacific University and quickly established himself as one of the state's premier coaches. With a 294-135 record over 14 seasons Sellitto is the most successful men's collegiate basketball coach in state history (.685 winning percentage). In 1993 he guided the Sea Warriors to the NAIA National Championship. It's the only national title in the sport of basketball at any level for the islands.

His individual awards include six Hawai'i Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year awards, three NAIA District 29 Coach of the Year awards, Honolulu Quarterback Club Sportsman of the month (March 1993), and Honolulu Star Bulletin's "Ten Who Made a Difference" (1993). He was also presented the Mackay Yanagisawa Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl in 1997 for his commitment, contributions, and achievements as a coach and educator in Hawai'i sports. He was a four-sport athlete at Colorado College where he played baseball, basketball, football, and was also a boxer.

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National Sportsmanship Day Web Site

For Further Information:
Contact: Jarnett Lono, Sports Information Director, Hawai'i Pacific University