SUNY University at Albany Women's Lacrosse

Scott Marr begins his 26th season as UAlbany's head coach in 2026. The only coach hired in the Division I era at the University at Albany, Marr, a seven-time America East Coach of the Year, has coached the Great Danes to 11 America East Tournament titles, 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and seven NCAA Tournament victories.  Following 2025, Marr has a 225-168 career record at UAlbany and has coached Tewaaraton winners in 2014 and 2015, 38 All-Americans, six Tewaaraton finalists, two Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award winners for Most Outstanding DI Player, three Lt. Col. J.L. Turnbull Award winners for the best Attackman in the nation, one Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Award winner for best goalkeeper in the nation, and one William C. Schmeisser Award winner for best defensive player in the nation. The 2025 season further cemented Marr’s legacy at the helm of the Great Danes, as he led UAlbany to its second consecutive America East Championship and the 11th in program history. After claiming the conference title, the Great Danes advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they secured a Capital Region victory over cross-town rival Siena in the Opening Round. Although the postseason run ended in a hard-fought First Round battle against #1-seeded Cornell, the season was defined by elite individual performances. Junior attackman Silas Richmond was honored as the America East Offensive Player of the Year, while Max Neeson anchored the unit as the America East Defensive Player of the Year, continuing UAlbany's tradition of producing top-tier national talent. 2024 saw the Great Danes return to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history, collecting the program's 10th America East Tournament Championship along the way. The Great Danes hosted the conference tournament at Casey Stadium for the first time since 2018 as the top seed, defeating No. 4 Merrimack and No. 2 Vermont to win the title. In NCAA play, UAlbany defeated Sacred Heart at Casey Stadium in the play-in game before falling to No. 1 seed and eventual National Champion Notre Dame in the First Round. In 2024, Marr collected his seventh America East Coach of the Year title, while having student-athletes Jake Piseno (Defensive Player of the Year) and Ryan Doherty (Rookie of the Year) collect major awards. Attackman Silas Richmond, a First Team All-Conference selection, led the entire conference in goals. Piseno would go on to collect the prestigious William C. Schmeisser Award, given by the USILA to the top defensive player in Division I men's lacrosse. It was the first time in UAlbany history that a Great Dane has earned the honor.    The Great Danes hosted a program-record 10 regular-season home games in 2023 and counted national powers Cornell, Maryland, Yale, and Penn to Casey Stadium among their 10 opponents.  For the first time since the 2021 season, UAlbany advanced to the America East title game, knocking off top-seed Vermont in Burlington to end an eight-game losing streak to the Catamounts that began after their last victory in 2018.  The Great Danes fell in the final to conference newcomer Bryant in double-overtime.  Jake Piseno was honored as America East Defensive Player of the year, and further earned All-America Honorable Mention accolades from Inside Lacrosse, USILA, and USA Lacrosse Magazine.  Piseno ranked second among NCAA Division I competitors in caused turnovers per game, and the team as a whole ranked 10th nationally in clearing percentage.  After the season, UAlbany hosted NCAA Quarterfinals matches between #2 Virginia and #7 Georgetown, and #1 Duke and Michigan.  Elijah Gash was picked 30th overall to the Whipsnakes in the 2023 PLL College Draft.  Finally, over the summer, Marr led a contingent of past and present Great Danes at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, serving as an assistant on the Haudenosaunee Nationals once again.  Piseno and Jack VanValkenburgh joined alumni Lyle Thompson, Jakob Patterson, Ron John, and Tehoka Nanticoke on the Haudenosaunee Nationals.  Team Canada featured UAlbany associate head coach Merrick Thomson on the sidelines with Connor Fields on the roster, Team USA had Blaze Riorden and TD Ierlan, and Team Puerto Rico had Will Ramos. Fresh off its latest appearance in the America East championship game in 2021, the UAlbany men's lacrosse team kicked off a historic 2022 season highlighted by two major events at home games.  First, in the home opener against Siena, a renewal of the Crosstown Rivalry that had been dormant since the 2016 season, all seven coaches on the sideline, excluding UAlbany head coach Scott Marr, graduated from UAlbany and played under Marr in their careers.  Later, the Great Danes hosted Syracuse for the first time in series history after playing the previous 19 games in Syracuse.  UAlbany saw breakthrough games from freshmen Thomas Decker and Adam Thistlethwaite to knock off the Orange for just the third time ever, 14-12.  The Great Danes clinched the four-seed in the America East Tournament and fell to top-seed Vermont in a rematch of the 2021 title game. After a 2020 season that was cut short, the Great Danes returned to the America East Championship after a 2021 campaign in which the team finished conference play at 5-3. At that mark, UAlbany entered the postseason as the conference's #4 seed, defeating #1 UMBC in the semifinals before falling to #2 Vermont in the championship game. Marr led six players to All-Conference selections in 2021, led by First Team picks Jakob Patterson and Michael Kozar.    On March 12, the 2020 season was cut short after five games due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent decisions made by the NCAA and its member conferences and institutions to cancel spring events.  UAlbany, picked third in the preseason conference poll, had gone 2-3 before the season was ended.  Two Great Danes, Jakob Patterson and Alex Burgmaster, earned Preseason All-Conference recognition from Inside Lacrosse.   In 2019, the Great Danes finished 5-9 overall, seeing its season end in the semifinal round of the America East Tournament. Despite the step back, UAlbany boasted the America East Offensive Player of the Year in Jakob Patterson, who finished the season with 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 total points, leading six America East All-Conference selections, including four on the First Team.   UAlbany earned its first-ever trip to Championship Weekend in 2018, winning the America East Tournament for the ninth time and finishing with a 16-3 record, tying a program record for wins in a season, with Marr being voted the America East Coach of the Year for the sixth time.  UAlbany was ranked #1 in the nation, in each the USILA Coaches Poll and the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, for six weeks.  The team earned a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament, its highest-placement ever in the postseason, and won two games in the tournament over Richmond and Denver, also earning victories in the regular season over NCAA participants Syracuse, Maryland, Cornell and UMass.  For the second straight year, UAlbany had the highest scoring offense in Division I with 14.42 goals per game, also being first in assists per game, points per game, scoring margin and face-off percentage.  JD Colarusso was selected as the USILA Top Goalkeeper in the nation.  The team had two Tewaaraton nominees, six All-Americans in the USILA/Inside Lacrosse, three USILA Scholar-Athletes, a team record 11 America East All-Conference honorees, five on the America East All-Academic Team and two on the America East All-Rookie Team.  Connor Fields, the America East Offensive Player of the Year, finished second all-time in career points with 364 and tied for fourth in career goals with 199.  He and Tehoka Nanticoke were each in the top-15 in DI in points per game.   In 2017, UAlbany was ranked as high as #4 in the nation for the second straight year, running the table in the America East regular season and tournament to finish 15-3 overall, defeating defending NCAA champion North Carolina in front of 6,472 at Casey Stadium to earn a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons.  UAlbany earned victories over North Carolina, Yale, Binghamton and UMass, all top-20 in the RPI.  10 Great Danes earned America East All-Conference honors, led by Connor Fields, a 2017 Tewaaraton Trophy finalist and Turnbull Award winner for top attackman in Division I, earning 117 points on the year, the fourth-highest single scoring season in Division I history.  Marr's squad was the top scoring team in the country with 277 goals, adding 171 assists for 448 points, averaging 15.39 goals per game as nine Great Danes scored double digit goals. Fields, TD Ierlan, Stone Sims, Troy Reh, Adam Osika and Kyle McClancy all earned All-America honors from the USILA or Inside Lacrosse.  Fields was on the first team for each while Ierlan was second team by IL and third team in the USILA.   2016 saw UAlbany return to the top-5 in the rankings for the first time since 2007, going as high as #4 at the start of May, as Marr earned his fifth America East Coach of the Year honor and third in four years.  The Great Danes earned their fourth consecutive undefeated America East regular season and first-ever at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, going 12-4 overall and 6-0 in America East play.  UAlbany earned victories over then ranked opponents Yale and Stony Brook, including a nine-game winning streak.  The Great Danes finished the year ranked #9 in the USILA Coaches Poll and #11 in the Inside Lacrosse Cascade/Maverik Media Poll.  Connor Fields and Blaze Riorden each were selected as Tewaaraton nominees while they, John Maloney and Seth Oakes all were chosen as USILA All-Americans.  Six UAlbany players earned America East All-Conference honors while three were on the All-Rookie Team and four were placed on the America East All-Academic Team.  Marr's team ranked seventh in Division I in goals per game with 12.94 and also was in the top-10 in assists per game, points per game, man-up offense shot percentage, caused turnovers per game and clearing percentage.   The 2015 season saw Marr coach the Great Danes to a 16-3 record, setting a new program record for wins in a season.  UAlbany swept the America East and the America East Tournament for the third-consecutive season, defeating Cornell to reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round for the second-straight year and finishing the season ranked #6 in the USILA Coaches Poll and #7 in the Inside Lacrosse media poll, each the team's highest rankings since 2007.  The team set new DI records with 325 goals, 202 assists and 528 points, earning double digit goals in 18 of 19 games played, including wins over then-ranked opponents Drexel, Harvard, Yale, Stony Brook and Cornell.  Lyle Thompson became the sport's first-ever back-to-back male recipient of the Tewaaraton Trophy and three-time America East Player of the Year, setting a new NCAA DI points record with 400 and assists record with 225.  Thompson led all of DI in points per game for the third-straight year and assists per game for the second-consecutive year.  Along with Thompson, UAlbany sported 10 America East All-Conference players, tying for the most in program history in a year with 2007.  Thompson, Connor Fields, the America East Rookie of the Year, Mike Russell, Eric Cantor and Blaze Riorden all earned First Team status while Seth Oakes, Tim Cox, John Maloney, Stone Sims and Matthew Bertrams all were named to the Second Team. In 2014, the University at Albany men's lacrosse team was one of the top featured squads in all of sports, with media appearances in the New York Times, ABC World News, CBS Evening News, ESPN's Sportscenter, National Public Radio and Newsday.  Led by the top scoring offense in the nation for the second consecutive year, the Great Danes earned a second-consecutive America East title, their sixth overall, and the program's second NCAA Tournament victory, taking down #1-ranked Loyola 13-6 in Baltimore and narrowly falling to Notre Dame in the NCAA Quarterfinals.  Lyle Thompson and Miles Thompson had historic seasons, becoming the first Native Americans and UAlbany players to earn the Tewaaraton Trophy, sharing the honor after becoming the first pair of Division I teammates to score 100+ points, earning #1 and #2 overall in a single season with 128 and 119 points respectively.  Lyle Thompson finished #1 in the country in points and assists per game, while Miles Thompson finished #1 in goals per game and #2 in points per game.  UAlbany earned victories over Harvard, UMass and Penn State en route to its second-consecutive undefeated America East season and tournament title, earning Marr America East Co-Coach of the Year honors.  Lyle Thompson, Miles Thompson and Ty Thompson all earned All-America honors, while those three, Blaze Riorden, Doug Eich, Ryan Feuerstein and Cody Futia earned All-America East honors.   2013 saw the Great Danes have their best season since '07, going 13-5 with a perfect 5-0 conference record, winning the America East and a subsequent berth in the NCAA Tournament.  The team earned victories over ranked opponents Syracuse, Johns Hopkins and UMass and finished with a #12 ranking.  UAlbany had the best offense in the country with 15.94 goals a game, over a goal more than the second place school, and scored in double digits in 16 of their 18 games.  Marr was honored as the America East Coach of the Year for the third time.  Lyle Thompson led all of Division I with 6.65 points per game, finishing with 50 goals and 63 assists, earning a Tewaaraton finalist honor, the Lt. Col. J.L. Turnbull Award for the best attackman in Division I lacrosse and America East Player of the Year.  The three Thompson brothers were all honored as All-Americans.  In total, nine players earned all-conference honors, including Lyle Thompson, Myles Thompson and Jon Newhouse earning America East All-Conference First Team, and three more on the conference's All-Rookie Team.   In the 2012 season, the Great Danes reached their second straight - ninth overall - America East Conference Championship game. Senior attackman Joe Resetarits was named the 2012 America East Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year, and was joined on the all-conference first team by senior long stick defender Travis Lyons. Sophomore attackman Miles Thompson, sophomore midfielder Cody Futia and senior faceoff specialist Keith Olson were all-conference second team honorees. Freshmen Mike Miller, Will Stenberg and Lyle Thompson all garnered all-rookie team accolades, while senior Daley Baker earned a spot on the all-academic squad. The Great Danes reached the America East Conference tournament championship final for the eighth time in nine years in the 2010 season. Dave Brock was selected in both the Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League drafts.    In 2008, Marr led UAlbany to its seventh consecutive appearance in the America East championship game. The Great Danes rebounded from four one-goal losses at the start of the season. Jordan Levine and Brett Queener were each selected in the MLL Collegiate Draft. Steve and Mike Ammann were taken in the NLL Entry Draft.   In 2007, Marr led the Great Danes to their fourth America East Conference championship in five years and the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament's quarterfinal round. He was named the USILA Division I National Coach of the Year.    UAlbany registered its first NCAA victory as a Division I program in a 19-10 triumph over Loyola before losing a memorable overtime decision to top-ranked Cornell in the quarterfinals. The Great Danes posted a school-record 15-3 mark, defeated seven top-20 teams, and were ranked No. 2 nationally for six consecutive weeks during the regular season. Frank Resetarits, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, was among four players voted to the USILA All-America squad. In 2006, Marr's squad reached the America East Conference championship final for the fifth straight year. His team ranked third nationally in scoring offense at 11.73 goals per game. Marr led the Great Danes to their third consecutive America East Conference Tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2005. UAlbany was sixth among the nation's scoring leaders (11.63 goals/game). The Great Danes defeated three top-20 squads during the regular season. Coach Marr guided the UAlbany program to the school's first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in 2003. The Great Danes tied a school record for single-season victories at the time with a 10-6 overall won-loss mark. The 2004 squad also posted 10 victories and finished seventh in the nation in team scoring before losing to eventual national champion Syracuse in the NCAA's first round.   Marr produced significant results in his second year at the helm. UAlbany captured the 2002 America East regular-season title with a 9-7 record. Albany's six-win improvement from the previous season was the best one-year turnaround in the program's history. He was recognized for his efforts by being voted America East Coach of the Year.   Marr served as one of three assistants for the 2006 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team that won the silver medal. Syracuse's John Desko was the U.S. team's head coach. The 2006 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship was held in London, Ontario from July 13-22. As an assistant on Dick Edell's Maryland staff for six years, Marr served as both assistant coach and offensive coordinator. Maryland made five NCAA Tournament appearances during that period and was the Division I national runner-up in 1995, 1997 and 1998. The Terrapins shattered the school's single-season scoring record with 236 goals when the program captured the ‘98 Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament titles. Maryland's attack averaged 12.5 goals under Marr's direction from 1995-2000. All-Americans Matt Hahn and Andrew Whipple became two of the most storied scorers in school history.   Marr began his coaching career as the University of Delaware's offensive coordinator, where he worked with the school's all-time leading scorer Anthony DiMarzo. From 1992-94, the Blue Hens captured three consecutive North Atlantic Conference championships and earned a top-20 national ranking in each season. Marr was also an assistant on the United States team that won the 1999 World Cup.   As a collegiate player at Johns Hopkins University, Marr was an attackman on the 1987 national championship squad and the ‘89 national runner-up team. The Blue Jays garnered four straight NCAA berths during his career. He received a B.S. in social and behavioral sciences in 1991.   A native of Yorktown, N.Y., Marr was a high school All-American who twice led his team to the state's semifinal round. He and his wife, Traci, a special education teacher, have three children, Kyle, Jordyn and Keeley.  His son, Kyle, played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins while Jordyn played lacrosse at UAlbany.   COACHING HONORS --Seven-time America East Coach of the Year (2002, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024) COACHING RECORD 1992-94 University of Delaware Assistant Coach 1995-00 University of Maryland Assistant Coach UAlbany Overall Record: 225-168, 94-35 America East (25 years) 2001 University at Albany Head Coach (3-8) 2002 University at Albany Head Coach (9-7, 5-0 America East) 2003 University at Albany Head Coach (10-6, 4-1 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament 2004 University at Albany Head Coach (10-6, 4-2 AE), America East Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament 2005 University at Albany Head Coach (10-6, 5-1 AE), America East Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament 2006 University at Albany Head Coach (8-7, 3-2 AE) 2007 University at Albany Head Coach (15-3, 4-1 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Quarterfinalist 2008 University at Albany Head Coach (8-8, 4-1 AE) 2009 University at Albany Head Coach (7-7, 3-2 AE) 2010 University at Albany Head Coach (5-11, 3-2 AE) 2011 University at Albany Head Coach (5-10, 0-5 AE) 2012 University at Albany Head Coach (5-11, 3-2 AE) 2013 University at Albany Head Coach (13-5, 5-0 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament 2014 University at Albany Head Coach (12-6, 5-0 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Quarterfinalist 2015 University at Albany Head Coach (16-3, 6-0 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Quarterfinalist 2016 University at Albany Head Coach (12-4, 6-0 AE), America East Regular Season Champion, NCAA First Round 2017 University at Albany Head Coach (15-3, 6-0 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Quarterfinalist 2018 University at Albany Head Coach (16-3, 5-1 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA Semifinalist 2019 University at Albany Head Coach (5-9, 4-3 AE) 2020 University at Albany Head Coach (2-3, 0-0 AE) 2021 University at Albany Head Coach (8-5, 5-3 AE) 2022 University at Albany Head Coach (5-10, 3-3 AE) 2023 University at Albany Head Coach (6-10, 4-3 AE) 2024 University at Albany Head Coach (10-8, 6-1 AE), America East Regular Season/Tournament Champion, NCAA First Round 2025 University at Albany Head Coach (10-9, 4-2 AE), America East Tournament Champion, NCAA First Round  

Katie Thomson returned to the Capital Region and the University at Albany in June 2018 when she was named head coach of the Great Danes women’s lacrosse program. Entering her eighth season in 2026, Thomson has guided UAlbany back to national prominence, capturing multiple America East Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2025, Thomson led the Great Danes to a 9-10 overall record and a 4-2 mark in America East play, earning them a 3-Seed in the conference tournament and securing the program’s sixth America East title. UAlbany battled through one of the nation’s toughest non-conference schedules, facing nationally ranked opponents including Syracuse, Harvard, Stony Brook, UConn, Boston College, and Clemson. The Great Danes would go on and avenge its regular season loss to UMass Lowell, defeating the No. 2 Seed Riverhawks, 18-10, in the America East semifinals and again avenging a regular season loss to Bryant, the No. 1 Seed of the tournament, 14-10, in the championship game. UAlbany carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament against No. 5 Yale, leading the Bulldogs the entire game, taking a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter, before falling 12-9, in the first round. Individually, Gracie McCauley earned Axia Time Inside Lacrosse National Division I Player of the Week honors, for her record setting eight goal performance in the America Each championship game. For All-Conference honor, the Great Danes recorded 11 selections with Paisley Cook and Mackenzie Salentre earning First Team All-Conference. In 2024, UAlbany finished 8-10 overall and 5-1 in conference play, earning a share of the program’s fifth America East Regular-Season title and the top seed in the conference tournament. The Great Danes opened league play with a 15-13 win over eventual conference champion Binghamton and advanced to their 13th-straight America East title game after a 12-11 semifinal win over UMass Lowell. UAlbany held an early 5-0 lead in the championship game before narrowly falling to Binghamton, 12-11. Individually, Katie Pascale repeated as America East Midfielder of the Year and became the first player in program history to reach 300 career points. She ranked among the nation’s leaders in points and assists per game prior to injury and earned recognition on the 2024 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America Honorable Mention, and as a SUNY Scholar-Athlete. Grace Cincebox was named America East Goalkeeper of the Year, Mackenzie Salentre earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Haley Phalines ranked among the conference leaders in draw controls. In total, the Great Danes earned 14 America East All-Conference and major award honors. The 2023 season was one of the best in program history as the Great Danes finished 13-7, captured both the America East Regular-Season and Tournament titles, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UAlbany went a perfect 6-0 in conference play and defeated Binghamton, 14-13, in the title game to claim the program’s third-ever tournament championship and first since 2012. Katie Pascale was named America East Midfielder of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player after setting program and conference tournament records, including 12 points in the semifinal against New Hampshire and a single-season record of 139 draw controls. Sarah Falk set the program’s single-season goals record with 72. In the NCAA Tournament First Round, UAlbany erased a 10-3 deficit to upset No. 12 Virginia, 16-14, before falling to No. 5 Denver, 8-6, in the second round. Nationally, the Great Danes led Division I in free-position percentage and ranked among the top 10 in shot percentage and draw controls per game. In 2022, the Great Danes clinched hosting duties for the America East Tournament for the first time since 2011. Katie Pascale, Sarah Falk, and Aislinn Sweeney each moved into the program’s top 10 in multiple career and single-season categories, while all three surpassed major career statistical milestones. During the season, Thomson’s jersey was retired by Syracuse University, making her one of the first four women honored by the department. In 2021, Thomson was named America East Coach of the Year after leading UAlbany to an 11-7 overall record and a 7-2 conference mark in the program’s first full season following the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Seven of the Great Danes’ 18 games came against ranked opponents, including three against conference rival Stony Brook. Katie Pascale was named America East Rookie of the Year, marking the third-straight season a Great Dane earned the honor, while Clancy Rheude was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year. UAlbany made its 10th-straight appearance in the America East championship game, and three players reached 100 career goals. The 2020 season was cut short after just five games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UAlbany had opened the year 3-2 and was picked second in the preseason conference poll. Senior Sam Tortora recorded her 100th career assist in what became the team’s final game of the season. In Thomson’s first season in 2019, the Great Danes finished 11-7 overall and reached their ninth-straight America East title game. UAlbany earned eight America East All-Conference First Team selections, including Offensive Player of the Year Madison Conway, while Sam Tortora set the program’s career assists record. A native of Delmar, Thomson previously served as an assistant coach at UAlbany from 2011-12 before becoming head coach at Wagner College from 2016-18. At Wagner, she compiled a 31-27 record and led the Seahawks to two Northeast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, including a preliminary-round NCAA Tournament victory in 2018. A three-time First-Team All-American at Syracuse University, Thomson (formerly Katie Rowan) is one of the most decorated players in women’s lacrosse history. Syracuse’s all-time leader in points and assists, she totaled 396 career points on 232 goals and 164 assists, becoming the school’s first three-time First-Team All-American. She led the nation in scoring in 2008 and was a finalist for both the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Honda Award. A four-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and two-time BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year, she set then-school single-season records for points (142) and assists (69) while leading Syracuse to its first national semifinal appearance. Following graduation, Thomson spent a season as a volunteer assistant at Syracuse before joining UAlbany’s staff in 2011, helping the Great Danes win back-to-back America East championships and make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012. She returned to Syracuse as an assistant in 2013, helping coach standout attackers Alyssa Murray, Kayla Treanor, and Halle Majorana. Thomson has also won two Federation of International Lacrosse World Cup gold medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2009 and 2013.

Former Great Dane standout attack Merrick Thomson enters his 11th season on the coaching staff for his alma mater in 2026, serving as the team's associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Thomson continued to direct one of the nation's most prolific offenses in 2025, helping lead the Great Danes to their second consecutive America East Championship and 11th title overall. Under his guidance, the UAlbany attack remained a force, resulting in a thrilling NCAA Opening Round victory over Siena at Casey Stadium. The season was highlighted by the development of Silas Richmond, who flourished under Thomson’s mentorship to be named the America East Offensive Player of the Year. Thomson’s offensive schemes and player development were pivotal in maintaining UAlbany’s status as a premier program in the national landscape. 2024 saw the Great Danes return to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history, collecting the program's 10th America East Tournament Championship along the way. The Great Danes hosted the conference tournament at Casey Stadium for the first time since 2018 as the top seed, defeating No. 4 Merrimack and No. 2 Vermont to win the title. In NCAA play, UAlbany defeated Sacred Heart at Casey Stadium in the play-in game before falling to No. 1 seed and eventual National Champion Notre Dame in the First Round. Student-athletes Jake Piseno (Defensive Player of the Year) and Ryan Doherty (Rookie of the Year) collect major awards. Attackman Silas Richmond, a First Team All-Conference selection, led the entire conference in goals. Piseno would go on to collect the prestigious William C. Schmeisser Award, given by the USILA to the top defensive player in Division I men's lacrosse. It was the first time in UAlbany history that a Great Dane has earned the honor.  Also in 2024, Thomson's legendary status at the University was officially immortalized when he was inducted into the UAlbany Sports Hall of Fame. Recognized for his unparalleled career as a player, the induction celebrated his role in putting Great Danes lacrosse on the national map during the mid-2000s, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear the purple and gold before transitioning into his elite coaching career. The Great Danes hosted a program-record 10 regular-season home games in 2023 and counted national powers Cornell, Maryland, Yale, and Penn to Casey Stadium among their 10 opponents.  For the first time since the 2021 season, UAlbany advanced to the America East title game, knocking off top-seed Vermont in Burlington to end an eight-game losing streak to the Catamounts that began after their last victory in 2018.  The Great Danes fell in the final to conference newcomer Bryant in double-overtime.  Jake Piseno was honored as America East Defensive Player of the year, and further earned All-America Honorable Mention accolades from Inside Lacrosse, USILA, and USA Lacrosse Magazine.  Piseno ranked second among NCAA Division I competitors in caused turnovers per game, and the team as a whole ranked 10th nationally in clearing percentage.  After the season, UAlbany hosted NCAA Quarterfinals matches between #2 Virginia and #7 Georgetown, and #1 Duke and Michigan.  Elijah Gash was picked 30th overall to the Whipsnakes in the 2023 PLL College Draft.  Fresh off its latest appearance in the America East championship game in 2021, the UAlbany men's lacrosse team kicked off a historic 2022 season highlighted by two major events at home games.  First, in the home opener against Siena, a renewal of the Crosstown Rivalry that had been dormant since the 2016 season, all seven coaches on the sideline, excluding UAlbany head coach Scott Marr, graduated from UAlbany and played under Marr in their careers.  Later, the Great Danes hosted Syracuse for the first time in series history after playing the previous 19 games in Syracuse.  UAlbany saw breakthrough games from freshmen Thomas Decker and Adam Thistlethwaite to knock off the Orange for just the third time ever, 14-12.  The Great Danes clinched the four-seed in the America East Tournament and fell to top-seed Vermont in a rematch of the 2021 title game. In 2021, the men’s lacrosse team experienced a season in which the Great Danes made it to the America East Championship as the No.4 seed. The team boasted a 5-1 record at home, highlighted by two wins over ranked teams – a 13-12 victory over No. 13 UMass and a 14-9 win over No. 18 UMBC. The offense was a force in the conference, ranking first in shot percentage, points and assists per game and second with 13.85 goals per game.  For the second straight season in 2018, UAlbany was the highest scoring offense in Division I with 14.42 goals per game, with the Great Danes scoring 274 goals with eight double digit goal scorers and 10 players having at least 11 points.  He had two players, Connor Fields and Tehoka Nanticoke, each in the top-15 in points per game in DI.  Fields, a USILA and Inside Lacrosse All-American plus the America East Offensive Player of the Year, became the second-leading scorer in DI all-time, being joined as All-Americans on offense with Nanticoke, the America East Rookie of the Year, and Kyle McClancy.  Those three, joined Sean Eccles and Jakob Patterson as offensive players named America East All-Conference. In 2017, Thomson coached the offense to be the highest scoring team in Division I at 15.39 goals per game, totaling 277 goals and 171 for 448 points, including nine double digit goal scorers.  The team had double digit goals in 16 of 18 games, as the offense helped UAlbany earn its fifth consectutive America East regular season and the 2017 America East Tournament title.  Connor Fields earned 117 points, the fourth-highest single scoring season in Division I history.  Fields was one of three UAlbany offensive players, along with Kyle McClancy and Adam Osika, to earn All-America honors. In his first season as a coach with the Great Danes, his offense sported three All-Americans and ranked seventh in Division I with 12.94 goals per game.  Connor Fields and Seth Oakes each ranked in the top-10 in goals per game to earn All-America honors while John Maloney also was an All-American in the midfield.  Netting double digit goals in 13 out of 16 contests, the UAlbany offense helped the program earn its fourth consecutive undefeated conference season and first-ever at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. Previous to returning to UAlbany, Thomson spent six years as the head coach of the Hill Academy, a prep school in his native Canada.  Thomson led the Hill Pride to a combined 68-13 record over the final five seasons.  While a coach, he also served as the assistant dean of students and an academic advisor. As a player, Thomson was one of UAlbany's top offensive players of all-time.  From 2004-07, he helped the Great Danes earn three America East titles and the program's first Division I NCAA Tournament victory.  He was a Third Team All-American in 2007.  He finished his career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 244 points and 188 goals, currently standing third and second respectively in those categories in UAlbany history.  When he finished his collegiate career, he stood fourth all-time in NCAA Division I history in goals scored, currently standing seventh. Thomson earned his undergraduate degree in 2007 and also earned his Master's Degree in education administration at UAlbany in 2009.  He served as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2005 to 2007. Thomson also had a post-collegiate career, playing for the New Jersey Pride and Toronto Nationals in Major League Lacrosse and the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League.  He was named the Most Improved Player of the Year in 2008 and led Toronto to the 2009 Steinfeld Cup, being named the playoffs MVP. He also represented Team Canada in international play, leading the squad to the 2007 International Lacrosse Federation World Indoor title.  

John Maloney joined the Great Dane coaching staff in 2018 and currently serves as the team's assistant coach and defensive coordinator. In 2025, Maloney’s defensive mentorship reached new heights as he guided the Great Danes’ backline to a dominant campaign, anchored by junior standout Max Neeson. Under Maloney’s tutelage, Neeson emerged as the premier defender in the conference, becoming the third consecutive UAlbany player to be named the America East Defensive Player of the Year. Neeson led the league with 27 caused turnovers and secured USILA and USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention honors, while the defensive unit as a whole proved critical in UAlbany's run to the 2025 America East Championship. Maloney’s expertise in developing lockdown defenders was further evident as his unit ranked among the nation's best in man-down defense and consistently stifled top-tier opponents throughout the postseason.    The 2024 season was an incredible season overall for the Great Danes. Highlights included winning the America East Championship as the No. 1 seed. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament, winning its Play In game vs Sacred Heart, 13-7, and put forth a valiant effort against top-seeded Notre Dame where they took a 5-4 lead into the locker room at halftime.   Under Maloney’s coaching, UAlbany’s Jake Piseno had one of the greatest single seasons of a defenseman in NCAA history. Earning First Team All-Conference honors, Defensive Player of the Year honors, First Team All-American honors, and winning the prestigious William C. Schmeisser Award, given to the best defenseman in all of the NCAA. Along with Piseno, Conner Fingar was awarded First Team All-Conference as a short stick defensive midfielder, and Will Pepe Second Team All-Conference long stick midfielder.     Piseno held many accolades during the 2022 and 2023 seasons as well, including earning his second Preseason All-America honor, this time landing on Inside Lacrosse's Second Team.  Piseno previously earned a Second Team Preseason All-America honor from USA Lacrosse, USILA All-American Honorable Mention, All-Conference First Team, and America East Defensive Player of the Year. He also held national rankings for caused turnovers per game. Another Great Dane star defender, Elijah Gash, ranked 7th in the America East in caused turnovers per game and was selected to the America East All-Conference Second Team, and was drafted 30th overall to the PLL’s Whipsnakes LC.   After a 2020 season that was cut short, the Great Danes returned to the America East championship in 2021 as the No.4 seed. The team boasted a 5-1 record at home, highlighted by two wins over ranked teams – a 13-12 victory over No. 13 UMass and a 14-9 win over No. 18 UMBC. Steven Kunz was a leader amongst his teammates and was recognized as America East Second Team All-Conference. Teammate Michael Kozar was named First Team All-Conference. Kozar was also selected for the All-Academic Team and was named 2021 America East Elite 18 Award recipient   John Maloney returned to the University at Albany as an assistant coach in the summer of 2018 after coaching lacrosse at St John Fisher College (2017) and Skidmore College (2016). A former Great Dane midfielder, Maloney helped lead UAlbany to three America East titles in four years, while making it to the NCAA tournament in all Four years - twice making it to the NCAA Quarterfinals. As a senior, he was named USILA Honorable Mention All-American at midfield and earned accolades as America East All-Conference Second Team midfielder two straight seasons. He finished his collegiate career with 76 goals, 45 assists and 127 ground balls.    Maloney also received the prestigious SUNY Scholar Athlete Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in 2015, given to those who display excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student at a SUNY University. He also was a member of the America East All-Academic Team for three straight years.   Maloney was drafted 22nd overall by the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the first round of the 2016 MLL draft and played with them for three seasons. In his first season, Maloney was awarded Cascade Rookie of the Week honors and also was nominated for Rookie of the Year.   Maloney earned his undergraduate degree in Human Biology in 2016. He is a native of Victor, N.Y.

Wallace returns to UAlbany, having been hired ahead of the 2026 season, after an accomplished playing and coaching career at the collegiate, professional, and international levels. She brings experience in offensive development, recruiting, video analysis, and player mentorship as the Great Danes continue to build toward the 2026 campaign. Wallace most recently served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College, joining the Big Green staff ahead of the 2025 season.  In 2024, Wallace also returned to UAlbany as a coaching assistant while completing graduate coursework, contributing to offensive development, goaltender support, and video operations during the Great Danes’ season.  In addition to her collegiate coaching roles, Wallace was named to the coaching staff as a college scout for the Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League in October 2024, becoming the first female scout in NLL history. She continues in that role with the franchise that has now relocated as the Oshawa FireWolves. She also serves as an assistant coach for the Lacrosse Canada West U17 National Development Team.  In her one season as a player at the University at Albany in 2023, Wallace scored 51 goals and added five assists for a total of 56 points in her lone season as a Great Dane, bolstering UAlbany's offense alongside Katie Pascale, Sarah Falk, and Bryar Hogg, each of whom recorded more than 50 points during the 2023 season. Wallace appeared and started in 18 of UAlbany's 20 games in 2023, including both games in the NCAA Tournament, the upset of #12 Virginia and the Second Round matchup at #5 Denver. A 2018 Under Armour All-American in of high school, Before UAlbany, Wallace enjoyed a standout collegiate career across three programs. She began her career at Stony Brook University, helping the Seawolves capture the 2019 America East Championship. She then transferred to the University of Oregon, where she played three seasons and led the Ducks in scoring in 2022 with 40 goals, earning Pac-12 All-Tournament honors.  At the international level, Wallace has represented Team Canada in multiple competitions, including the World Lacrosse Super Sixes event in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, and the inaugural 2024 Women’s Box Lacrosse World Championships in Utica, New York. She helped Canada earn a silver medal at the event, marking the program’s first medal in Women’s Box World Championship history. Wallace first competed for Canada in the 2019 U19 Women’s World Cup Championships in Peterborough, ON, earning silver.