TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) director of athletics Jim Knowlton has announced the retirement of long-time head athletic trainer Anthony Ortolano. A member of Rensselaer's staff since 1985, 'Ort' worked with thousands of student-athletes and hundreds of coaches from 23 athletic programs.

"I want to thank Bob Ducatte, who hired me in 1985 despite not having Division I ice hockey experience," Ortolano said. "I also want to thank Ken Ralph for having enough trust in me to be a vital part of the design of the sports medicine suite in ECAV, which I perceive to be one of the best in the country.

"The director of the college health center on any college campus is critical to the success of a sports medicine team and Dr. Les Lawrence and his staff at RPI have been supportive and involved since his arrival on campus. I also want to thank Dr. Rick Alfred and the staff of sports medicine trained physicians at the Bone and Joint Center for their trust and support. "

"'Ort is someone who will be missed dearly around campus," Knowlton said. "He brought a personality to the position that worked well with our student-athletes and staff here at Rensselaer. The athletic family and the Institute benefited greatly from his professional relationships, his knowledge and the dedication he brought with him every day."

Among Ortolano's main accomplishments was to greatly improve the Institute's efforts toward prevention and treatment of athletic injuries by adding new programs and state-of-the-art equipment. He also played a major role in the design of the state-of-the-art athletic training suite in the East Campus Athletic Village (ECAV). In addition he mentored countless assistant athletic trainers and student workers, many of whom have advanced in the medical industry.

In addition to his duties at RPI, Ortolano served as an athletic trainer at numerous other events, including the U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team in 2006 and 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship, helping the latter capture the gold medal. He has also worked the U.S. Kayak-Canoe Championships and with the U.S. Bobsled Federation.

Ortolano has been on duty for countless NCAA National Championships, the head trainer for the Summer Empire State Games for several years and since 1994 he has served as the head athletic trainer for the Summit Lacrosse Tournament in Lake Placid, N.Y.

A member of the New York State, Eastern Regional and National Athletic Trainers' Associations, Ortolano was presented the prestigious Tom Sheehan Award, given annually to the New York athletic trainer who has done the most for the advancement of athletic training in the State, in 1982. He has been inducted into the Adirondack Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the Rome (NY) Sports Hall of Fame and is a member of RPI's Phalanx honor society for those who have "worked to better the standing of Rensselaer both on and off the campus."

Prior to coming to RPI, Ortolano was an athletic trainer at Union College from 1977-78 and was both an instructor and athletic trainer at Plattsburgh State from 1979-85.

Ortolano earned his bachelor's degree from Norwich University in 1976, where he was a four-year varsity performer and two-year captain of the lacrosse team, and his master's degree from Central Connecticut State University in 1977.

Ortolano and his wife, Megan, who live in East Nassau, N.Y., have four children, Cater, Becky, Trevor and Molly. Each of their children played collegiate lacrosse.