Marco Pietroniro

Head Coach & General Manager
mpietroniro@arizonasundogs.com

Marco Pietroniro assumed the reigns as the first head coach/GM in franchise history on August 1, 2005. Bringing with him a philosophy of enriching trust with players, the organization, league, and community from a foundation of discipline and respect, Pietroniro, 39, provides the direction and development of the Club’s hockey operations, both on and off the ice. In addition to his coaching duties, Pietroniro’s responsibilities extend to the fulfillment of the hockey-related matters of the Club and its player personnel, including recruiting players, immigration matters, and player housing.

During the 2006-07 season, his first as a professional head coach and general manager, Pietroniro guided the Sundogs to a 34-28-2 record, eventually advancing to the second round of the CHL playoffs before falling in Game 7. In just his second season, Pietroniro led the team to a 39-19-6 regular season record and secured his first title as a professional coach, leading the Sundogs to the 2008 Central Hockey League Ray Miron President's Cup Finals and sweeping the defending champion Colorado Eagles in four-straight games.

A native of Laval, Quebec, and fluent in English, French and Italian, Pietroniro has played hockey at the junior and professional levels throughout North America and Europe. Between his beginning with Trois-Rivieres in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and end with the San Angelo Outlaws (WPHL), Marco played professionally in the Italian League with Bressanone, Torino, Milano, and Brunico from 1989 to 1997 prior to moving back to the United States and serving as a player/captain/assistant coach with the Idaho Steelheads for two seasons. Pietroniro brought his professional playing career to a close in 2001 with San Angelo.

During the summer months of 1994-97, Pietroniro skated for various clubs in the RHI (Roller Hockey International), including the Atlanta Fire Ants, Montreal Roadrunners, Hockey Club Milano 24, and the Italian National Team. A leader on and off the ice, Pietroniro was tapped as captain or an alternate captain for eight of the eleven teams he played for during his junior and professional career.

With a sincere interest in the development of hockey players at all levels, Pietroniro has worked as an instructor at various hockey schools in addition to organizing and running youth hockey programs. Since joining the Arizona Sundogs Hockey Club, he has organized the Arizona Sundogs Youth Hockey Program, introducing young athletes in Northern Arizona to the sport of ice hockey.

Marco and his wife, Caroline, are the parents of five boys: Phil (15), Chad (13), Matteo (11), Kris (9), and Massimo (7). The family resides Prescott Valley.