Saint Leo University Men's Lacrosse

Brad Jorgensen was hired as the first head coach of the Saint Leo University men’s lacrosse program in January 2005 and is entering his 20th year at the helm of the Lions men's lacrosse program for the 2025 season. Under Jorgensen’s direction, the Lions have earned a NCAA DII National Championship Appearance (2018), South Region Championship (2018), 49 All-Sunshine State Conference (SSC) honors in addition to 37 Deep South All-Conference selections including the SSC 2018 Player of the Year in Jake Gilmour, five United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-Americans, and six USILA Scholar All-Americans. In 2018, Jorgensen was named the SSC Coach of the Year after he led Saint Leo to its first SSC Regular Season Championship. Jorgensen oversaw the Saint Leo men's lacrosse program joining the Sunshine State Conference after the 2013 lacrosse season as the Lions were previously a member of the Deep South Conference. Fast Facts Alma mater: Springfield, 1995 Seasons coached: 26 Coaching record: 194-166 (.538) Seasons coached at Saint Leo: 19 Record at Saint Leo: 149-116 (.562) Coaching History Jorgensen cam to Saint Leo from Wheaton College where he was the head men’s lacrosse coach at Division III school in Norton, Mass. since 1997. The native of Simsbury, Conn. has had 22 players named to the Pilgrim League All-Conference teams and one to the All-New England squad. He also sent a combined 10 players to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Senior North-South All-Star and New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Senior East-West All-Star games. Jorgensen was selected head coach of the East squad in the 1999 game. He also has been a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee since 2001 and served as the site representative for the Division III semifinal match in 2004. Personal History Jorgensen is a 1995 graduate of Springfield College (Mass.) with a bachelor's degree in movement and sports science. He was a midfielder for four years on the Division II team and was named First Team All-America in 1994 and 1995. Springfield won the NCAA Division II Championship in 1994 and was national runner-up in 1995. Springfield won the ECAC Championship in 1993. Jorgensen completed his MBA with a concentration in Sports Business at Saint Leo in 2009.  He and his wife Caroline have two sons.

Saint Leo men's lacrosse alumni, Chad Marino, returned to the sidelines at University Turf Stadium in the fall of 2021 and served as an assistant coach on head coach Brad Jorgensen's staff from 2021-2024 before earning a promotion to associate head coach in the summer of 2024. The 2016 Green and Gold graduate helped propel the men's lacrosse program as a two-time All-Sunshine State Conference midfielder.  Marino's offensive mindedness helped lead the efforts to recruit Greg Palmer, the 2023 SSC Freshman of the Year. Since 2022, the Lions have compiled a 24-21 record and have earned 13 All-SSC selections highlighted by Palmer's selection as the 2023 SSC Freshman of the Year. Saint Leo has also had two All-American selections, both in 2024 with Michael Flores earning All-America honors from the USILA and Flores and Guy Bistrow being named USILA Scholar All-Americans.  “We are happy to welcome Chad back to campus,” expressed Jorgensen. “He was a leader on and off the field during his career and has become a fixture in the Tampa lacrosse community. Chad’s experience and expertise is a welcome addition to the staff.” Marino has spent the couple years at the helm of the East Lake Eagles Lacrosse team in Tarpon Springs, Fla. Coach Jorgensen originally recruited Marino out of Mt. Sinai, NY. and his familiarity was key to strengthening the recruiting efforts in the Long Island area. Marino was a four-year member of the Lions from 2013 to 2016. In four years, he scored 46 goals and tallied 32 assists and picked up 27 ground balls while causing nine turnovers. He was twice named to the All-SSC, earning second team honors as a junior and first team honors as a senior.

Roesler joined head coach Brad Jorgensen’s staff in the Fall of 2024 as a graduate assistant for the men’s lacrosse program. He comes to Saint Leo following a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant coach for the Newberry College men’s lacrosse team.   Both years working as a volunteer assistant coach at Newberry saw the teams advance to the SAC tournament. The Wolves finished both seasons with 10+ wins (2023: 11-5; and 2024: 12-4).   Roesler graduated from Newberry College in 2022 with an undergraduate degree in Communications. He was a two-year member of the Wolves men's lacrosse program as a long stick midfielder, starting in 28 of 29 games played. He had five career goals and three assists while picking up 76 ground balls and causing 35 turnovers.      Roesler is a native of Carlisle, Pa., and graduated from Carlise Area High School.  

Cotter to the coaching staff.  Cotter, a native of Whitby, Ontario, has a storied playing career both in the collegiate and professional levels, and brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Lions offensive line.  Were very excited to bring Nick on board, said Jorgensen.  His experience and lacrosse intellect will be a very big addition to our staff, and were looking forward to seeing how he his guidance helps elevate the level of play on our offensive end of the field. With Cotter focusing on the offense, the Lions saw eight singles season individual records fall in 2016, highlighted by Dylan Yonts breaking both the point (62) and goals (50) records, while Jake Gilmour broth the single season assist (34) and single game assists (8) records. The Lions also finished the season as the NCAA DII Statistical Champion for Man-Up Offense Efficiency with a clip on .521. His impact was noticed in his first season as well, as the Lions saw Yonts tie the single season goals record at 38 in 2015. Cotter was a key player for the Dowling College Golden Lions from 2005-08.  The three-time NCAA All-American (2006-08) helped his team to its first ever National Championship title in 2006.  He earned First Team All-Conference, and was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2006 and 2007. The 2008 graduate was named to the NCAA DII All-Star Team from 2006 through 2008, and played in the USILA North/South All Star Game in the summer of 2008.  Additionally, Cotter set a record for most goals scored in program history from the midfield.  Throughout his four year career, the leftie midfielder compiled 113 goals, 22 assists, and 118 ground balls in 53 games played. Cotter was drafted into the National Lacrosse League directly out of college in 2008, getting picked up by the Boston Blazers in the second round as the 14th overall pick.  His break into the professional levels didnt end there, as he was also picked up by the Major Series Lacrosse league in the first round as the fifth overall pick to the Peterborough Lakers, where he played from 2008 to 2011. After three seasons with the Blazers where Cotter racked up 46 goals, 38 assists, and 122 loose balls in 43 games, he was picked up by the Buffalo Bandits where he played in 2012 and 2013, and also played on the LXM Pro Tour on Team East in 2011 and 2012. His coaching career has been just as impressive as his playing career, with his most recent stint as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Copperheads.  Cotter also has coaching experience as a graduate assistant for Mercyhurst North East, as well as at the Nike Lacrosse camps in Boston. Cotter graduated from Dowling College with a bachelor of arts in Elementary Education, and earned his Masters in Organizational Leadership from Mercyhurst University in 2013.