New York has always been a focal point for lacrosse. The very first college team in the United States was fielded in the state back in 1877. But now, one head coach has sharpened this focus to not just New York, but New York Institute of Technology.
Jack Kaley has established a winning legacy for the NYIT men’s lacrosse team that includes three national championships and five consecutive conference championships.
The formula behind his winning strategy?
“Our guys never quit,” Kaley says, sitting behind a large desk covered with lacrosse scores, lacrosse magazines and lacrosse gear. His office shares a similar decor, with videotapes of past games stacked in one corner, team photographs hung like family portraits, and plaques lined along the walls that demonstrate his commitment to coaching and NYIT’s status as a top contender in men’s college lacrosse.
“We’ve always been a hard-working team,” says the 68-year-old coach, whose 149-26 record at NYIT (as of April 1, 2006) is enough to garner respect from fellow coaches and
players in any sport. In April 2006, he was named College Coach of the Year by the Nassau County Sports Commission in New York.
Student athletes quickly learn “the three H’s” of Kaley’s coaching philosophy: hard work, heart and hustle. His winning strategies have been at the core of the NYIT men’s lacrosse team since he started the program 14 years ago. In his second year as head coach, the Bears were undefeated in the regular season; and in 1997, the team captured its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II lacrosse championship. Since 2001, Kaley has coached the Bears through five consecutive New York Collegiate Athletic Conference championships.
Following last year’s spectacular overtime win that gave NYIT its third NCAA Division II lacrosse championship, Kaley found himself in hot demand. Although he’s not big on traveling (“I’m a firm believer in the home field advantage,” he jokes), Kaley made a presentation with his coaching staff at the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association National Convention, held in Baltimore, Md. He also delivered a speech at the U.S. Lacrosse National Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
Additional speaking engagements included guest appearances at high school lacrosse coach clinics in Bridgewater, N.J., and Winter Park, Fla.
Kaley also found time to travel overseas to make final selections for the German National Lacrosse Team, which will compete in the World Lacrosse Championships in Canada, July 13-20, 2006.
As for NYIT, Kaley was proud to welcome back returning veterans for the 2006 season, including senior captains Joe Droge, Matt Miller, Steve Sorentino and Joe Vasold, and cultivate talent among several new faces.
“I expect many of the young players to step up in the coming seasons,” says Kaley, adding that winning is the best morale booster.
But this year’s team was not able to rely on the contributions of former team leaders Tom Zummo (B.A. ’05), Joe Gabrysiak (B.A. ’05) and Chris Vitucci (B.A. ’05). Those superstars played vital roles in the Bears’ recent string of championships. And although the 2006 Bears did not bring home a fourth NCAA lacrosse trophy, Kaley remains optimistic about his young team, adding: “I believe in them.”
Given his track record, those words may be reason enough to make room for another trophy in the near future. |
