Hofstra University Men's Lacrosse

Seth Tierney became the fifth head coach in the history of the Hofstra men's lacrosse program in August 2006. He enters his 20th season at the helm this year. Tierney is also the head coach of the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team. He will lead that team through the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in Japan. Tierney was first named as an assistant coach for the U.S. senior team in 2014 and helped them capture the world championship in 2018 in Netanya, Israel, and in 2023 in San Diego. He also serves as the Premier Lacrosse League’s Head of Competition. Tierney completed his 19th season as head coach in 2025. In his 19 completed years at the helm, Tierney has led the Pride to 146 victories, the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association championship, the 2009, 2011 and 2014 CAA regular season titles, and berths in four consecutive NCAA Championships from 2008 through 2011. He has also coached 15 student-athletes who have earned All-America honors and 83 who have earned all-conference accolades. In 2025, Tierney led Hofstra to eight wins, a berth in the CAA Championship semifinals, and saw three student-athletes earn postseason accolades from the CAA. Trevor Natalie was named to the All-CAA First Team, Shea Kennedy garnered All-CAA Second Team honors, and Kennedy and Drew Bogardus each earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie squad. The team had success on and off the field as the program had a 3.57 grade point average during the 2024-25 year, earning the CAA Team Academic Excellence Award as the top GPA in the league. In addition, the Pride took home the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Team Academic Award and saw three student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and Natalie capture USILA Scholar All-American honors. Extremely active in the growth of the sport of lacrosse, Tierney served as an assistant coach on the gold-medal winning United States Men’s National Team in 2018 and 2023. He also serves as the Chairman of the professional Premier Lacrosse League Advisory Board that began competition in 2019. Two Hofstra alums, Jack Concannon ’18, and Josh Byrne ’17, were named to the inaugural PLL All-Star Game with Concannon earning Most Valuable Player honors. Two more Pride alums, Finn Sullivan ’16, and Brendan Kavanagh ’18, were named to the 2019 MLL All-Star Game. In 2023, Hofstra men’s lacrosse alumni Josh Byrne ‘17 (Canada) and Zachary Pall ’12 (Israel) played for their respective national teams at the World Lacrosse Championship.   Tierney served as an assistant coach at Hofstra from 1995 through 2000 before leaving for a similar position at his alma mater Johns Hopkins University. During his six-year tenure as an assistant, Hofstra recorded six consecutive winning seasons with a combined overall record of 61-28 and a conference mark of 29-2, captured five league titles, received five top 15 final national rankings, and played in four NCAA Championship tournaments.   Tierney also coached seven All-Americans and nearly two dozen all-conference players during his first tenure at Hofstra. Among them was midfielder Doug Shanahan, who would receive the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy as College Lacrosse Player of the Year, the Lt. Ray Enners Award as the Division I Player of the Year, and the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Award as the Division I Midfielder of the Year in 2001. Hofstra won six games in 2024 and saw four players recognized by the CAA with postseason honors. Griffin Turner garnered All-CAA First Team accolades, John Madsen and Chase Patterson picked up All-CAA Second Team honors, and Henry Troy was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. Hofstra was exceptional in the classroom as well, as the Pride earned the CAA Team Academic Excellence Award for having the top GPA in the league and the program was named an USILA Academic Team Award with three student-athletes (Patterson, JT Roselle, and Turner) being named USILA Scholar All-Americans. The 2023 Pride won five games with a roster beset of injuries as the team was involved in five one-goal games during the season. Daniel Ochs earned All-CAA First Team honors and also USILA Scholar All-American accolades. The Pride would also receive the USILA Academic Team Award.  Tierney and the Pride earned six wins in the 2022 season. Four members of the team received national and conference postseason honors, including Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American Bryan McIntosh. McIntosh was drafted in the third round of the 2022 PLL College Entry Draft, making him the seventh Hofstra men’s lacrosse alum on an active PLL roster that season. In the classroom, the team received the USILA Academic Team Award, and Bryan McIntosh and Mac Gates were named to the USILA Scholar All-America Team. In 2021, Tierney and the Pride recorded eight wins, including two over nationally-ranked opponents, and advanced to the CAA Championship Game. Six players received national and conference postseason honors, including CAA Offensive Player of the Year and USILA Second Team All-American Ryan Tierney. In addition, long-stick midfielder Michael Altmann was selected to compete in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game and became the men's lacrosse program's first CoSIDA Academic All-American® when he was named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America® At-Large Third Team. In addition, the Pride received the USILA Academic Team Award and several student-athletes were named to the USILA Scholar All-America Team. During the shortened 2020 season, Tierney and the Pride went 4-3 against a challenging schedule while posting a 3-1 home record. On November 12, 2020, Tierney was announced as an inductee to the Long Island Metro Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He was inducted in January 2022 as a member of the 2020 Class.   In 2019, Hofstra, in a rebuilding mode to replace seven starters and facing a schedule that included six nationally-ranked opponents, opened the season with a win over 13th-ranked Lehigh. But key injuries and inexperience created a 5-9 season. Three student-athletes earned All-CAA honors and two seniors were named to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game. In 2018, the Pride defense ranked second in the nation on their way to a second consecutive trip to the CAA Championship semifinals. Goalie Jack Concannon earned his second consecutive All-America honor, six student-athletes earned All-CAA accolades and four seniors were picked for the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game. In 2017, Hofstra opened the season with 10 consecutive victories and rise to number two in the national rankings. The Pride advanced to the CAA Championship semifinals before suffering a one-goal defeat and ending the season at 11-3. In the process, then-senior Josh Byrne earned CAA Player of the Year honors as well as All-CAA first team honors joining four other Pride first team selections. Freshman Ryan Tierney earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors and was one of two all-conference second team picks as well as one of two all-rookie team selections. Goalie Jack Concannon earned USILA All-America second team honors and All-CAA first team accolades. In 2016 Hofstra recorded a 9-6 record including a big victory over eventual national champions, North Carolina, and returned to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship for the fifth time in his tenure. Finn Sullivan earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors and joined a league-high four other Pride players on the All-CAA first team. Two more were named to the All-CAA second team and four seniors were selected for the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.   During a difficult season in 2015 that saw the Pride drop seven games by two goals or less, seven Pride players were named to the All-CAA team led by CAA Player of the Year Sam Llinares and fellow first team selections Ryan Rielly and Kris Clarke. Four seniors were named to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game and two seniors earned USILA Scholar-Athlete honors.   In 2014 Hofstra recorded its fourth double-digit victory season during his tenure, posting an 11-5 record and placing 14th in the final coaches poll. The Pride also captured the CAA regular season title with a 4-1 mark and advanced to the conference tournament championship game where they fell to Drexel in triple-overtime, 11-10. Hofstra ranked eighth in the nation in defense, allowing 8.44 goals per outing  behind junior goalie Chris Selva, who ranked sixth in the country in goals against average.  Eight Hofstra players earned All-CAA honors led by junior Ryan Rielly and sophomores Sam Llinares and Finn Sullivan, who were CAA first team selections.  Llinares also earned USILA All-America honorable mention accolades as well. For his hard work, Tierney earned CAA Coach of the Year honors for the second time during his Pride tenue.   In 2013 the Pride possessed one of the top defenses in the country, ranking third in goals against average (7.79) and climbing as high as sixth in the national media rankings and seventh in the coaches rankings. Included were victories at second-ranked Notre Dame and 13th-ranked Fairfield during a 7-7 season. In 2012 Hofstra battled through some key injuries on the offensive side and was involved in eight games decided by two goals or less during a 6-8 season. The Pride enjoyed great success, both on the field and in the classroom. Andrew Gvozden was named a USILA Scholar-All-American and the CAA Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year and six players were named to the All-CAA Team led by first team selection Adrian Sorichetti.   In 2011 Hofstra recorded a 13-3 record, captured the CAA regular season title and earned its school record-breaking fourth consecutive bid to the NCAA Championship. In addition, the Pride had four players, Jay Card, Mike Skudin, Andrew Gvozden and John Antoniades, earn USILA All-America honors. Card, Skudin, Antoniades, Ian Braddish and Adam Mojica were named to the All-CAA first team while Gvozden, Steven DeNapoli and Jamie Lincoln were voted to the second team. Skudin, who was selected the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, also earned USILA Scholar All-American and CAA Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. To close out the year, Skudin, DeNapoli and Card were named to the North-South Senior All-Star Game with DeNapoli leading all goal scorers in the contest with three.   In 2010 the Pride made its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship and finished the year with a 9-5 record. Hofstra had two players named to the USILA All-America team, five named to the All-CAA team and two more named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. In 2009, Tierney directed the Pride to an 11-4 overall, a 6-0 mark during the CAA regular season and his second NCAA Championship bid. Five Hofstra players were named to the All-CAA Teams, including first team selection Jay Card, who was voted the CAA Player of the Year. In addition, four Pride players were named to the USILA All-America team and one was voted to the USILA Scholar-Athlete All-America Team. For his efforts, Tierney was named the CAA co-Coach of the Year.   The 2008 season saw Hofstra make a return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus. The team posted a 10-6 record and won the CAA title in a thrilling overtime win over Drexel. Leading scorer Anthony Muscarella was named an honorable mention All-American, while Kevin Unterstein was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and Jay Card earned CAA Rookie of the Year accolades. In addition, seven players received All-CAA honors and the Unterstein brothers, Kevin and Michael, were named North-South Game All-Stars and were both selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft.     In his first year at the helm of the Hofstra program, Tierney took over a team that returned one starter from 2006's NCAA Quarterfinal squad and led them to a 6-8 record that saw seven losses decided by one goal. The team qualified for the CAA Championship, saw one of its star players - Kevin Unterstein - earn honorable mention All-America honors and had seven players named to All-CAA teams, including three All-Rookie selections.   Tierney returned to Hofstra after a six-year tenure at John Hopkins, with the final two seasons as associate head coach. As the Blue Jays offensive coordinator, he was the architect of one of the most potent and explosive offenses in the nation. Tierney directed the Blue Jays attack that finished second in the nation in scoring margin, sixth in scoring offense and 16th in man-up offense during Hopkins' NCAA title run in 2005. The Blue Jays led the nation in scoring offense and man-up offense in 2003 and finished fifth in both categories in 2004.   In Tierney's final season at Hopkins the Blue Jays posted a 9-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, and ranked in the top 15 in the country in four statistical categories. A total of 21 Blue Jay midfielders and attackmen earned All-America honors during Tierney's tenure in Homewood. Among them was Kyle Harrison, a two-time first team All-America, who received the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Lt. Enners Award in 2005 and the McLaughlin Award in 2004 and 2005.   Tierney played for the Blue Jays from 1988 through 1991 and served as team captain as a senior.  He helped lead Hopkins to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including an appearance in the 1989 NCAA title game. He received Hopkins' Turnbull-Reynolds Award as a senior as the player most exemplifying leadership and sportsmanship. Tierney was also selected to play in the North-South game as a senior.   After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Tierney continued his playing career by playing three seasons of indoor lacrosse for the New York Saints before serving as an assistant coach for the Saints for two seasons.   Tierney and his wife, Maureen, have two children - a son, Ryan, who was a member of the Hofstra team from 2017-2021, and a daughter, Erin, who was a member of the Hofstra women's lacrosse team from 2019-2022. Ryan is the program’s all-time leader in goals (164) and points (251), while Erin served as a captain and appeared in 51 games for the Pride. The Tierney family resides in Massapequa, New York. Seth Tierney at Hofstra 2007     6-8 2008     10-6      CAA Champions; NCAA Tournament 2009     11-4      NCAA Tournament 2010     9-5        NCAA Tournament 2011     13-3      NCAA Tournament 2012     6-8        2013     7-7 2014     11-5      CAA Regular Season Champions 2015     5-9   2016     9-6  2017    11-3       CAA Championship semifinals 2018    6-8         CAA Championship semifinals 2019    5-9 2020    4-3         (season canceled due to COVID-19)                                                                2021     8-6          CAA Championship Game 2022     6-9 2023     5-9 2024     6-9 2025     8-7        CAA Championship semifinals Career 146-124  

Unterstein is entering his seventh season on the Hofstra Men's Lacrosse staff and his fourth year as associate head coach in 2016-17. During his coaching tenure at Hofstra, he has worked with the defense, the face-off specialists and the man-down unit. Last season, Hofstra led the CAA and ranked 21st nationally in face-off winning percentage with a .541 mark while the defense was second in the conference and 13th in the nation allowing  8.53 goals per game. In 2015, Hofstra led the CAA and was eighth in the nation in scoring defense (8.44) and was second in the conference and sixth in the country in turnovers per contest (12.1). In 2013, the Pride ranked first in turnovers per game (11.36), third in scoring defense (7.79 gpga) and 28th in man-down defense (.667). In 2011, the Pride led the nation in scoring defense (6.56 gpga) and ranked sixth in face-off winning percentage (.622) and turnover average (13.69). Hofstra was also sixth in man-down percentage (.760) in 2012. A 2008 graduate of Hofstra with a degree in sociology, Unterstein enjoyed a stellar playing career as a short-stick defensive midfielder from 2005 through 2008. As a senior he recorded a team-leading 70 ground balls while helping to guide the Pride to the Colonial Athletic Association title and the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, he was an All-CAA first team selection, and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, and the CAA Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player. In 2007 as a junior, Unterstein earned USILA All-American honorable mention honors, and was named to the All-CAA second team as well as the All-CAA Tournament team. As a sophomore in 2006, Kevin, his twin brother Mike, and their older brother Chris combined to help lead Hofstra to a 17-2 record, a No. 2 national ranking and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. He was also named to the All-CAA Rookie Team as a freshman. Following graduation in 2008, he became an assistant under Bill Tierney at Princeton in 2009, working with the defense and face-off specialists. He would follow Tierney to Denver in 2010 to help coordinate the Pioneers' man-down unit and work specifically with the defensive midfielders and work with assistant coach Trevor Tierney with the defense and the overall face-off game. Unterstein has also played professionally in Major League Lacrosse, playing for the Long Island/New York Lizards in 2009, and 2012 through the present, and the Denver Outlaws in 2010 and 2011. A native of Shoreham, N.Y., he was a high school All-American at Shoreham-Wading River High, where he was part of four Suffolk County championships and one state championship. Unterstein and his wife Melissa reside in North Babylon, New York.  

Hofstra alumnus John Gorman is in his seventh season of his second tenure on the Pride men's lacrosse staff in 2024-25. Gorman served as an assistant coach from 2018-21, and he was named the associate head coach in November 2021. Gorman serves as the defensive coordinator for the Pride.  Gorman helped the Pride to eight wins and a berth in the CAA Championship semifinals in 2025.  The three-year Pride letterman returned to Hofstra in August 2018 after two successful years as an assistant coach/defensive coordinator at Rutgers University. During his tenure with the Scarlet Knights, Gorman helped lead the Rutgers defense to an overall team defensive ranking of 18th in 2017 and 23rd in 2018. In addition, Gorman had five All-American honorees, five All-Big-10 honorees, and one Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year Award winner during his two years at Rutgers. Gorman served as assistant men's lacrosse coach/assistant defensive coordinator under Kevin Unterstein on Seth Tierney's staff at Hofstra from August 2012 through August 2016. The Lindenhurst, New York native was a defensive midfielder for the Pride from 2005 through the 2007 seasons. During that time, he played in a total of 40 games, starting 15, and picked up 30 ground balls and one assist.   As a senior captain in 2007, Gorman started all 14 games, picked up 20 ground balls and received the Bengt Barbaccia Award for the second consecutive year. He was part of Hofstra's 2006 team that posted a school record 17 wins, won the Colonial Athletic Association championship, advanced to the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship quarterfinals and received his first Barbaccia Award. He also tallied one assist and picked up seven ground balls on the season. Gorman played in 10 games as a sophomore in 2005, picking up three ground balls and receiving the David McCartney Memorial Endowed Scholarship Award. Gorman came to Hofstra after two years and one playing season at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York where he was a NJCAA All-America second team selection, team captain and helped lead the Lions to the division championship and the NJCAA national semifinals. A three-sport athlete at Lindenhurst (NY) High School, Gorman lettered in lacrosse, football and wrestling and was a two-time All-Suffolk County selection in wrestling and an honorable mention all-county pick in football. After graduation from Hofstra, Gorman served as a teacher and coach on the high school and elementary levels from 2007 through 2012. Gorman served as assistant varsity lacrosse coach at South Side High School on Long Island from the fall of 2007 through 2012, and assistant varsity and junior varsity head wrestling coach from November 2010 through 2012.  Gorman also served as a health and physical education instructor at Joseph Barry Technical School in Westbury, NY from 2012 through 2015. Gorman, who served as a lifeguard for the Town of Babylon from 1999 through 2012, also taught in the Rockville Centre School District from 2008 through 2012. Gorman has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Hofstra. Gorman and his wife, Jennifer, have a daughter, Liv, and a son, Cash.   

Brazel is in his sixth season on the Pride Men's Lacrosse staff in 2016-17. He is entering his fifth season as offensive coordinator and sixth season as goalies coach and recruiting coordinator. During his tenure at Hofstra he has directed goalies Andrew Gvozden and Chris Selva, who have ranked in the Top 12 in the nation while the team defense has been among the Top 13. In 2016, he coached sophomore Jack Concannon to All-CAA first team honors while placing second in the conference and 14th in the nation in goals against average and second in the CAA and 10th in Division I in save percentage. A former goalie at Hofstra during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Brazel returned to Hofstra in 2011 after serving as an assistant coach under head coach Bob Shillinglaw at Colonial Athletic Association-foe Delaware during the 2010-11 academic year. While with the Blue Hens, he served as an offensive assistant coach, and coached the Delaware goalies as well as the team's attack unit. He coached four All-CAA players and one USILA All-America selection as the Blue Hens won the CAA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Prior to coaching at Delaware, Brazel spent three seasons (2007-10) at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. While at Sacred Heart, Brazel's duties included coaching goaltenders, coordinating the team's defense and man-down unit, recruiting, monitoring academic progress and assisting head coach Tom Mariano with all other day-to-day lacrosse operations. During his tenure at Sacred Heart, Brazel coached three All-Colonial Athletic Association defenders in addition to coaching the programs goaltenders to top 15 national rankings in save percentage and top two national rankings in saves per game in 2009 and 2010. Brazel began his Division I coaching career during the 2006-07 year at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. He served as offensive coordinator and goalie coach at Manhattan under Head Lacrosse Coach Tim McIntee. Under his assistance, the Jaspers made a jump of more than three goals per game during the 2007 season. Brazel began his college coaching career as an assistant coach under Rich Speckmann from 2003 to 2006 at Nassau Community College. While at Nassau, Brazel guided the development of the team's goaltenders and defensive units as well as working with the team's face-off specialists. He helped lead the school to the NJCAA semifinals and regional championship in both 2003 and 2004. During his tenure at Nassau, Brazel coached seven NJCAA All-American defenders as well as a two-time All-American goalie. Nassau was also the start of Brazel's college academic and athletic career.  In 1999, Brazel earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American and NJCAA Goalie of the Year while helping the Lions to NJCAA national title. As a freshman in 1998, he was a member of Nassau's NJCAA semifinal team. Brazel then moved on to Hofstra and was part of the Pride's NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 200. He was also a member of the second highest ranked team in Hofstra history in 2002. Brazel holds a degree in psychology from Hofstra University and has presented at the U.S. Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Connecticut High School Coaches conventions in recent years as well as the Nexstar Showcase and Camp. Brazel and his wife Jenna are the proud parents of a son, Eamon (3). The Brazel family resides in Massapequa, New York.     Hofstra alumnus J.P. Brazel is in his sixth season on the Pride Men's Lacrosse staff in 2016-17. He is entering his fifth season as offensive coordinator and sixth season as goalies coach and recruiting coordinator. During his tenure at Hofstra he has directed goalies Andrew Gvozden and Chris Selva, who have ranked in the Top 12 in the nation while the team defense has been among the Top 13. In 2016, he coached sophomore Jack Concannon to All-CAA first team honors while placing second in the conference and 14th in the nation in goals against average and second in the CAA and 10th in Division I in save percentage. A former goalie at Hofstra during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Brazel returned to Hofstra in 2011 after serving as an assistant coach under head coach Bob Shillinglaw at Colonial Athletic Association-foe Delaware during the 2010-11 academic year. While with the Blue Hens, he served as an offensive assistant coach, and coached the Delaware goalies as well as the team's attack unit. He coached four All-CAA players and one USILA All-America selection as the Blue Hens won the CAA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Prior to coaching at Delaware, Brazel spent three seasons (2007-10) at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. While at Sacred Heart, Brazel's duties included coaching goaltenders, coordinating the team's defense and man-down unit, recruiting, monitoring academic progress and assisting head coach Tom Mariano with all other day-to-day lacrosse operations. During his tenure at Sacred Heart, Brazel coached three All-Colonial Athletic Association defenders in addition to coaching the programs goaltenders to top 15 national rankings in save percentage and top two national rankings in saves per game in 2009 and 2010. Brazel began his Division I coaching career during the 2006-07 year at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. He served as offensive coordinator and goalie coach at Manhattan under Head Lacrosse Coach Tim McIntee. Under his assistance, the Jaspers made a jump of more than three goals per game during the 2007 season. Brazel began his college coaching career as an assistant coach under Rich Speckmann from 2003 to 2006 at Nassau Community College. While at Nassau, Brazel guided the development of the team's goaltenders and defensive units as well as working with the team's face-off specialists. He helped lead the school to the NJCAA semifinals and regional championship in both 2003 and 2004. During his tenure at Nassau, Brazel coached seven NJCAA All-American defenders as well as a two-time All-American goalie. Nassau was also the start of Brazel's college academic and athletic career.  In 1999, Brazel earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American and NJCAA Goalie of the Year while helping the Lions to NJCAA national title. As a freshman in 1998, he was a member of Nassau's NJCAA semifinal team. Brazel then moved on to Hofstra and was part of the Pride's NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 200. He was also a member of the second highest ranked team in Hofstra history in 2002. Brazel holds a degree in psychology from Hofstra University and has presented at the U.S. Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Connecticut High School Coaches conventions in recent years as well as the Nexstar Showcase and Camp. Brazel and his wife Jenna are the proud parents of a son, Eamon (3). The Brazel family resides in Massapequa, New York.    

Michael Gongas is in his sixth year on the Hofstra men's lacrosse coaching staff as an assistant coach after joining in August 2019. This past summer Gongas served as an equipment manager with the gold medal-winning Team USA at the World Championships. In addition, he was recognized with World Lacrosse's Heart and Spirit of Lacrosse Award. Gongas was also named as an assistant coach for the 2023 USA Select Teams.  Gongas serves as the Pride’s offensive coordinator.  Gongas, a native of Port Jefferson, New York, brought 12 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Hofstra. Prior to joining the Pride, he served as an assistant coach in charge of the offense, goalies and recruiting during the 2019 season at Belmont Abbey College. Gongas also served as an assistant coach in charge of the goalies, man-up situations and the box and assisting with the offense for the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse. A 2007 graduate of Adelphi University in nearby Garden City, New York, Gongas played two seasons for the Panthers earning All-American honors as a senior. Prior to Adelphi, he played two years of lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts and was a member of the Minutemen’s 2005 squad that advanced to the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals. Gongas was also a member of Comsewogue High School’s 2002 New York State Championship team and earned All-American and All-Long Island honors in 2003. Gongas began his coaching career at Suffolk County (NY) Community College as an assistant directing the offense, goalies and serving as study hall advisor from August 2007 through December 2007. He left Suffolk to begin a four-year tenure at Presbyterian College, the first two seasons as an assistant coach in charge of the offense, goalies, recruiting, student-athlete development and study hall advisor. In September 2009 he was promoted to Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach and served in that capacity until June 2011. In August 2011, Gongas became an assistant coach in charge of the offense, recruiting and study hall at Sacred Heart University. After two years at Sacred Heart he moved on to Marist College where he spent five years as an assistant coach working as offense and goalies coach, recruiting coordinator, head of player development, community service coordinator and serving as the IMLCA representative for assistant coaches in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Gongas was drafted by the Long Island Lizards in the 2007 MLL Supplemental Draft and participated in their 2008 training camp. He also participated in the 2007 National Lacrosse League (indoor) combine and signed a contract with the New York Titans. Gongas holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Adelphi.