The announcement was the culmination of a six-month nationwide search to replace William J. Cleary ’56, who announced last December that he would retire at the end of June after 11 years in the position.

The announcement was made at a noontime press conference at the Murr Center attended by a number of top University and College administrators, including President Lawrence H. Summers--who officially made the appointment--Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles and Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ‘68. Many from the athletic department, including Cleary and dozens of coaches, also attended the announcement.

“I’m honored to be chosen,” Scalise said during the press conference. “As a former Ivy League player and coach this is a dream come true.”

Scalise is no stranger to Harvard athletics. He previously served as the coach to both the men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer teams.

“This is a homecoming for our new director,” Knowles said in introducing Scalise at the press conference.

From 1974 to 1987, when Scalise coached the team, men’s lacrosse amassed a combined 98-79 record. He led Harvard to its first NCAA tournament appearance--and an Ivy League championship--in 1980.

He served as the first coach of Harvard’s women’s soccer team, heading up the team from 1977 to 1986. He agreed to help start a women’s soccer program at Harvard in 1976 after being approached by several interested players.

In his ten years as head coach, his women’s soccer teams had a combined record of 113-38-11 and won three Ivy League championships. Scalise was the nation’s first collegiate women’s soccer coach to record 100 victories--a mark he reached in 1985.