Arcadia’s Delaney takes job as head coach at Elizabethtown after one season as men’s coach
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/23/13
From Press Release
Andrew Delaney, who guided Arcadia to five wins in its first season of varsity men’s lacrosse, has been named head coach at Elizabethtown.
Director of Athletics Nancy Latimore announced Delaney as the third head coach in the program’s 12-year history this afternoon.
“I am honored to be selected as the next head lacrosse coach at Elizabethtown College,” said Delaney. “I would like to thank Marianne Calenda, Nancy Latimore, and the entire search committee for allowing me this great opportunity. I am excited to build on the excellent tradition that the Blue Jays have established and am looking forward to my first season.”
Delaney brings 10 years of coaching experience to the College. He spent the last two seasons at Arcadia, building the program as its first head coach. In their first varsity season, the Knights won five games and showed a strong level of compete against their Freedom Conference foes. Delaney mentored three all-conference selections and league Rookie of the Year Chris Jacovino.
“One of Elizabethtown’s greatest attributes that stood out to me right away was an excellent academic tradition coupled with a well-rounded, successful athletic department,” noted Delaney. “The College’s commitment to excellence on and off the field is something I wanted to be a part of.”
With seven winning seasons and a matching number of conference tournament appearances since its inaugural season in 2002, the Blue Jays’ men’s lacrosse program is looking for a return to the postseason in 2014 —it’s final season in the Commonwealth Conference— before heading to the Landmark Conference next summer.
“We are very fortunate to have an individual with Coach Delaney’s experience and skill set assuming leadership of our Blue Jay men’s lacrosse program,” said Latimore. “He will be an outstanding coach and mentor for our young men within the program.”
Delaney is a 2003 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where he majored in special studies with a focus on history, government and sociology of the modern era. He was a four-year letter-winner for the Diplomats on defense and helped F&M reach the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals during his senior season.
Throughout his coaching career, Delaney has been able to learn from some of the best coaches in the industry. Delaney joined Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., as an assistant coach in the summer of 2004, working under the wing of current Charlotte Hounds (Major League Lacrosse) head coach Mike Cerino. Delaney also had the chance to learn from Gene McCabe in 2007. The Generals had winning seasons in each of his years with the program, winning 25 games in that time frame.
In the summer of 2007, Delaney reunited with Cerino at Division II Limestone College. He handled defensive coordinator duties for three seasons as the Saints reached the DII Final Four in each season and produced seven All-Americans, including defensemen Matt Pinder (2008) and Spencer Wims (2009).
“I’ve been so fortunate to play for, and coach with, some of the best leaders in the game,” explained Delaney. “Mike Cerino gave me my start and was instrumental in teaching me the nuances of the profession. He’s been a great mentor to me over the last 10 years. I also owe a lot to Gene McCabe and [Washington College head coach] Jeff Shirk, as well as my former coaches at Franklin & Marshall [Dave Webster and Bill Gorrow], as they’ve given me so much perspective in how successful programs should be run. It’s something I certainly hope to emulate with the Blue Jays.”
Delaney spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach/defensive coordinator for Shirk at Washington College, before accepting the head position at Arcadia that summer.
Cerino hired Delaney as an advance scout for the Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse in April of 2012, a role he served while coaching at Arcadia. Outside of coaching, Delaney has experience as a physical education instructor, assistant sports information director and equipment manager in his previous coaching stops.
“I’m proud to be leading the Elizabethtown College program,” said Delaney. “In the short term, I’m excited to prepare our team for its final year in the Commonwealth Conference, and then to look ahead to the Landmark and 2015. We will play fast and allow our student-athletes the freedom to be aggressive and creative on the field. The College’s motto of Educate for Service will be something we embrace every day as an opportunity to learn and grow, and to prepare our players for competition.”
Delaney, who is married to wife Linda, is originally from Maplewood, N.J. He will begin his duties with Elizabethtown on September 11.
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