Adam V. D'Agostino, who has coached three American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) High Point Riders to Top Five finishes at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship, will join the Albion College Equestrian coaching staff for the 2018-2019 season, Andrea Wells, director of Albion's Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, and Matt Arend, the Britons Athletic Director, announced today.
D'Agostino will begin his duties on July 16.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Adam D'Agostino join our team," Wells said. "We believe he possesses the background, experience and enthusiasm to lead the team forward to achieve great competitive success. We are looking forward to working with him and excited for his contributions and for the future of the equestrian riding programs at Albion College."
An Associate Lecturer in Equine Business Management and Business Management and Head Western Coach of the Equestrian Team at Cazenovia (N.Y.) College for the last seven years, D'Agostino coached the 2017 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Individual Open Reining National Champion, who also placed third in the AQHA High Point Rider competition and advanced the Western Team to AQHA Trophy competition at the 2017 IHSA Nationals.
Under D'Agostino's direction, Cazenovia has advanced riders to the NRHA Derby Collegiate Cup and the AQHA World Show Collegiate Challenge.
A graduate of the University of Findlay, D'Agostino got his start in coaching as an intern with the Western Team that captured the 2010 IHSA National Championship. He also coached the junior varsity Western team for two seasons at Findlay.
As a collegiate rider, D'Agostino was a member of the Western teams that finished as the Reserve National Champion in 2008 and the National Champion in 2009. Individually, he was the National Champion in AQHA Advanced Western Horsemanship in 2008 and 2009.
A member of several equestrian organizations, including the AQHA Professional Horsemen's Association and Markel American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Professional Horsemen's Association, D'Agostino owns a business specializing in all-around performance horses for show competition. He has trained a number of national-level champions and year-end award winners. His career has given him the opportunity to work for distinguished AQHA Professional Horsemen Nancy Sue Ryan, Scott Jones and David Miller, as well as FEI Driving trainer, Darren Menkins. Adam also judges Open and 4-H shows and provides clinics on a multitude of topics in the Western industry.
"I am looking forward to the upcoming IHSA season with the Britons," says D'Agostino. "Coaching riders in the collegiate industry is my passion and I am excited to bring that to Albion. I know these riders are ready to get to work and I feel we will have a great start to the competitive year!"
Follow Albion equestrian on Twitter (@AlbionRiding) and Instagram (albioncollegerides) to keep up to date with everything about the Briton equestrian teams