Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Men's Lacrosse

Biography John Jez enters his third season at the helm of Embry-Riddle Men’s Lacrosse after being named the second head coach in program history in August of 2023. In his first two seasons as the Eagles’ head coach, Jez took Embry-Riddle Men’s Lacrosse from the bottom of the league standings to the second round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament in 2025. The 2025 campaign marked the first winning season in program history as the Blue and Gold compiled a 9-7 overall record, including a 4-3 ledger in SSC play. The Eagles scored upsets against No. 13 Saint Leo, No. 14 Molloy and No. 19 Newberry, and achieved another program first by appearing in the national polls where they were ranked as high as 14th.   The Eagles also celebrated the program’s first All-Americans in 2025. Christian Hofer was named an Honorable Mention All-American by USILA, and Hofer and Tim Keefe both garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors as awarded by USA Lacrosse Magazine. The Jez tenure at Embry-Riddle includes 12 All-SSC selections and four All-Region honorees.   Jez came to Embry-Riddle after two seasons at Post University where he orchestrated the turnaround of a program that had gone winless in the season prior to his arrival. Jez's previous head coaching stops included an unprecedented 11-year run at LIU Post/Long Island University (2007-17), and two years at Pace (2002-04). Jez also served for 11 years as an Assistant General Manager and then General Manager of the United States Men's Lacrosse National Team where his teams won two World Championships (2006, 2010), and three U-19 championships (2008, 2012, 2016).    Jez boasts a 178-78 (.695) career record in NCAA II competition, highlighted by back-to-back national titles at LIU Post in 2009 and 2010. Jez claimed a pair of National Coach of the Year honors while at LIU Post (2009, 2014), and in total made three appearances in the NCAA II national title game and seven trips to the NCAA II national semifinals.     Jez's teams have featured both high-powered offenses and stout defenses, twice leading the country in scoring offense (Pace - 2003, LIU Post - 2009), and finishing as the second-best scoring defense in the nation three times (LIU Post - 2009, 2010, 2011). In his 17 campaigns as head coach, Jez has coached 60 All-Americans, four USILA Position Players of the Year, and two National Players of the Year, as well as 17 Scholar All-Americans. While at LIU Post, Jez's squads claimed seven East Coast Conference Championships.    Heavily involved in the sport of lacrosse, Jez is currently a member of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Regional Advisory Committee representing the Sunshine State Conference, the USILA All-Region Committee, and the USILA National Ranking Committee. Additionally, he has previously served as the Chairman of the NCAA II National Championship committee, the USILA All-American committee, and the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules committee.    A 1994 graduate of Pfeiffer, Jez was a two-time All-American for the Falcons and received his degree in Sports Medicine before earning a master’s in criminal justice from LIU Post.  Jez and his wife Christine have three daughters, Olivia, Dakota, and Jalyn. The Jez family resides in DeLand, Florida. Coaching History Year Ovr. Pct. Conf. Pct. Postseason 2 Seasons 15-15 .500 6-8 .429 ERAU Totals 17 Seasons 178-78 .695 100-38 .724 Career Totals 2003~ 11-3 .786 10-2 .833 NE10 Tournament 2004~ 9-5 .643 9-3 .750 NE10 Tournament 2007^ 9-4 .692 3-3 .500 2008^ 11-3 .786 4-2 .667 2009^ 15-1 .938 6-0 1.00 ECC Conference Champions NCAA National Champions 2010^ 16-1 .941 9-1 .900 ECC Conference Champions NCAA National Champions 2011^ 16-2 .889 9-1 .900 ECC Champions NCAA II National Semifinals 2012^ 6-6 .500 4-6 .400 2013^ 11-3 .786 7-0 1.000 ECC Champions NCAA II National Tournament 2014^ 11-6 .647 6-2 .750 ECC Tournament NCAA II National Final 2015^ 14-3 .824 8-0 1.000 ECC Champions NCAA II National Quarterfinal 2016^ 12-4 .750 7-1 .875 ECC Champions NCAA II Tournament 2017^ 8-8 .500 5-3 .625 ECC Tournament 2022` 4-8 .333 2-4 .333 2023` 10-6 .625 5-2 .714 CACC Tournament 2024* 6-8 .429 2-5 .286 2025* 9-7 .562 4-3 .571 Sunshine State Conference Tournament ~ Pace ^ LIU Post ` Post *Embry-Riddle PERSONAL Hometown Ossining, N.Y. Education B.S. in Sports Medicine (Pfeiffer) M.S. in Criminal Justice (LIU Post) ACCOLADES 178 Career Wins 2 NCAA II National Titles at LIU Post (2009, 2010) 7 NCAA II Tournament Appearances 7 East Coast Conference Championships 2x National Coach of the Year 2 National Players of the Year 60 All-Americans 106 All-Conference Selections 17 Scholar All-Americans 4 All-Academic Teams MILESTONES AT EMBRY-RIDDLE First Victory: vs North Greenville (RV), 14-9 (Feb. 24, 2024) First Conference Win: vs. Lynn, 17-11 (March 23, 2024) Longest Win Streak: 6  (March 1-March 29, 2025)  

Carfagna transitioned from a student-athlete to an assistant coach when he was hired as the assistant coach for ERAU Men's Lacrosse in the summer of 2025.  Carfagna’s coaching experience stems from his time as a head coach and event leader for the Rhode Island Bulldogs, a club lacrosse team, since 2023. While there, he designed and implemented training programs, strengthened team dynamics through motivational strategies, and communicated and developed game strategies. Carfagna also served as the coordinator for the Aquidneck Bulldogs this year. On the field, Carfagna was a five-time letterwinner, spending his first four years of his collegiate career at Post before transferring to Embry-Riddle for the 2025 season. He earned First Team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference honors in 2024 and earned a spot on the All-Sunshine State Conference Third Team the following year as a member of the Blue and Gold.  Carfagna earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Post in 2024. He is currently pursuing an MBA in finance at ERAU.