As of March 2018, based on the former and current athletes rankings.
The athletes have spoken; rating their coaches among various attributes deeming them the best in their field. 2aDays has compiled the top 9 D1 Men's Lacrosse Coaches. The greatest coaches rise to the top by their ability to lead – to make the play happen, unite the players, and motivate the team.
9: Coach Brendan Callahan, Dartmouth University – 3.14 Rating: Coach Callahan came to Dartmouth after seven years as the assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Lehigh, where he helped guide them to three consecutive league championship games from 2012-2014 and back-to-back Patriot League Championships in 2012 and 2013. His ratings and comments reveal why he has earned a spot on the top nine list. One comment stated, “Incredible guy, a true winner.” Before his coaching career, he played for Stony Brook and was the captain. On the Seawolves, he earned Second-Team All America East and was an All-Rookie Team selection in 2004 as a goaltender. During his first season, he led the team to a record 5-8 and a conference mark of 1-5, which included a huge 12-11 double overtime to Harvard to kick off Ivy League play.
8: Brian Brecht, Rutgers University – 3.44 Rating. Coach Brecht's success speaks for itself. One comment on Coach Brecht's LRT rating stated, “Can't argue with the man's resume and success.” He has over 20 seasons worth of collegiate coaching experience, six of those as the head coach at Rutgers. In just the past 2017 season, Rutgers completed a 10-4 overall record and were nationally ranked every week of the season and even rose to the Number 1 spot in the nation on the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. Coach Brecht is an alum of Springfield College where he played collegiate lacrosse, following he went on to a handful of Assistant Coach stints until he became the Head Coach at Siena College from 2005 till 2011. The relationships Coach Brecht has developed with his athletes speak volumes to his dedication to his athletes beyond them as just players, but in a broader sense concerned for their well-being and academic pursuits. One comment stated, “Coach Brecht understands his players and has a unique relationship with all of them. He is caring and considerate towards his player's decisions on the field as well as off in the real world. He promotes good grades in the classroom before good play on the field. Overall, cares so much for our team and gears his players towards success.
7: John Tillman, University of Maryland – 4.09. Coach Tillman's career record stands at 116-48 and exclusive to his time at Maryland is a 96-29 record. Last year Coach Tillman led the team to the NCAA National Championship where they won the title for the first time since 1975. If their performance on the field isn't enough to attest to Coach Tillman's success, then the comments and rankings on 2aDays do. One comment stated, “Has a great understanding of lacrosse, but coaches as if we were in the NFL equivalent of lacrosse. Sometimes overwhelming. But gets results, so it's great if that's what is important to you.” His coaching style seems to be paying off big time for the athletes on his team. He arrived in College Park in 2011 and has since left a lasting mark with 47 All-American Selections, 31 Major League Lacrosse draft selections, 18 NCAA Tournament wins and 6 Final Fours all in his seven-year period with the team. Another comment on LRT noted, “Be prepared to work extremely hard. Take what you've done in high school and multiply that by 100.” The drive Coach Tillman has to see his players succeed is evident and has apparently paid off for them as they've experience exponential success since he has been there. Before Maryland, Coach Tillman had a few Assistant Coach stints before taking over as Head Coach of Harvard and then to Maryland. Additionally, while in college at Cornell University, Coach Tillman came in as a goalie, but played a number of positions, expanding his understanding and appreciation for the game.
6: Chris Wojcik, Harvard University – 4.19 Rating. A Harvard grad himself, Wojcik has lead the Crimson to success for the past seven seasons with a 53-51 overall record, including a pair of 10-win campaigns and 12 wins against ranked opponents. While a student at Harvard from 1991 through 1996, Coach Wojcik was a two-sport standout athlete playing lacrosse and soccer. He earned lacrosse All-America honors in 1996 as the captain carrying his team to the NCAA tournament. Again he served as the captain of the soccer team, earning two All-Ivy League honors and leading the team to an Ivy League title and an appearance in the NCAA tournament in the fall of 1994. Before graduating, Coach Wojcik was named the winner of Harvard's Bingham Award, received by the top male student-athlete in the senior class.
5: Ryan Polley, Boston University – 4.27 Rating. With Coach Polley at the helm of the Terriers for the past four years, they have continued to outperform themselves. In the past 2017 season, Coach Polley was the receiver for two awards: the Patriot League Coach of the Year and the New England Division 1 Coach of the Year. No wonder the comments on 2aDays praise him so highly. One commented, “Polley is an extremely knowledgeable coach who cares about his players, and wants us to succeed on and off the field,” another reads, “The progress of the team is a testament to the ability of him and the coaching staff to overcome adversity that comes along with starting a program. As a young team, there is a focus on fitness, fundamentals, and toughness instilled in practice. With every year the culture continues to build and grow, which is another goal of the coaching staff.” In just a few years, Coach Polley has unified and transformed his team. A further testament to his impact on the team's success came in 2016 when they posted their first winning season ever at 8-7.
4: Scott Marr, University of Albany – 4.50 Rating. Scott Marr is beginning his 18th season as the head coach and has led his athletes to eight America East Tournament titles, nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament and four victories in the NCAA Tournament. He has a 163-111 overall record and has coached 29 All Americans over the past 17 years. Coach Marr played for Johns Hopkins University as an attackman on the 1987 national championship and in 1989 when they were the national runner-up team. Before his collegiate success, he was a high school All-American. The University of Albany men's lacrosse team is one to keep an eye on this upcoming season as they were NCAA quarterfinalist last year and show much promise coming into this season. Five of there players have already been selected to the Inside Lacrosse Preseason D1 Media All-American Team.
3. Mike Pressler, Bryant University – 4.58 Rating. There is no doubt Coach Pressler has earned his ranking, and the outpouring of comments stand as a verification. He has been at Bryant since 2006 and in the last decade has led the men to a national reputation with five Northeast Conference titles, and four NCAA tournament appearances in the previous six seasons. Coach Pressler graduated from Washington and Lee University as a four-year starter in both football and lacrosse and as a captain to both his senior year. In 2001 he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame at Washington and Lee and additionally, he was inducted into the Wilton High School Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Beyond those inductions, the comments about Coach Pressler serve to confirm success on all levels. One comment stated, “Coach P pushes us to be the best teammates on and off the field that we can be. He knows each individual and what tactics to use to make them better. He has an unbelievable passion for success which trickles down to his players” and another stated; “Coach Pressler is a man who knows what he is talking about. He has experience in just about every situation. He will push his players hard and has a passion for winning. He deeply cares about all of his players and helping them grow into men.” To put it simply, Coach Pressler was also referred to as, “The man!”
2: Andy Shay, Yale University – 4.68 Rating. Coach Shay embodies what athletes want to see in their coach; one LRT comment said, “Knows how to recruit, motivate and win. What else could you want from a coach?” That pretty much sums it up, and his record on the field helps support why he's the number One. The last eight seasons for Coach Shay with the Bulldogs have been remarkable for their program, earning him the reputation as, “The man, the myth, the legend. Loved by all,” from one LRT comment. Coach Shay has led an 86-37 overall record with eight straight Ivy League Tournament appearances. Last year, Coach Shay won the 2017 Ivy League Coach of the Year which was well deserved. Out of their eight Ivy League Tournament appearances they have five Ivy Tournament Titles and five NCAA appearances. Another comment from LRT concludes, “He pushes players to be the best they can be on and off the field, developing his athletes to be well-rounded student-athletes.” Before joining the Bulldogs, Coach Shay was on the staff of a few other teams, including the University of Delaware and the University of Massachusetts. Coach Shay was a graduate of Le Moyne College where he was a starting four-year defensive man and captain for two years.
1: Greg Raymond, Hobart College – 4.70 Rating. He has been the head coach since July of 2013 and has compiled 31 wins, the most wins ever in a four-season span for the Statesmen since they moved into Division 1 in 1995. This past season, the Statesman won the Northeast Conference championship with a 5-1 record, with many of his players gaining recognition as a result. One comment on LRT said, “Coach Raymond has a strict set of values that he pushes for all of his players to live by both on and off the field. He has a commanding and stern presence but does not hesitate to crack a solid joke here and there. He demands continued improvement from all of his players which has resulted in continued improvement of the Hobart Lacrosse Program.” Prior to joining on with the Statesmen, Coach Raymond gained experience as the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Princeton University and at Drexel University. Coach Raymond has been transformative as the head coach at Hobart, one comment on LRT reflected, “Coach Raymond emphasizes the aspects of treating your teammates as family over all else. He creates a positive atmosphere in which nothing short of excellence is acceptable among his players. He will push you to your limits and demand constant development, but is rational and understanding.”
* Originally published on March 2, 2018, by Elisabeth French
