2019 NILCA Hall of Fame Inductee Bios
Alan Lowe
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The trivia question of the legacy of Alan Lowe is: What 3 sports did Al letter in while at Hempstead High School? The reply is astounding – Football, Basketball, and of course, Lacrosse. In each sport, he earned his varsity letter 3 years, and in each, was named All-County. While at Hempstead, wearing number 24, Alan started his Lacrosse run while achieving greatness. He was named Captain, both his Junior and Senior years, and as a senior, set two County Records with most goals for the season, 64 in 13 games, and most goals in a game; 12 – which still stands today.
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He went on to play at the University of Maryland, where he was part of the 2 time ACC and TRI National Championship teams, was named Captain, All-American, received the Powell Award for Meritorious Service in the Advancement of Lacrosse at Maryland, and was named to the North-South All-Star Game. He had already made his mark.
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Alan continued to play Club Lacrosse, playing with outstanding teammates and continued the Championship tradition. He played for Mt. Washington Lacrosse Club, and Long Island Lacrosse Club, who won 5 Club Championships, and was named Club All-Star 5 out of 6 years playing. During those years, he had already started his coaching career, starting at Maryland, as the Head Coach of the Freshman Lacrosse Team in 1968. He returned to Long Island, the following year, and began coaching at the JV level at East Meadow High School where the team went 13-1. From 1971-1974 he was the Varsity coach there, where his teams went 78-15 and won 3 Long Island Championships.
In 1974, he was also named to the US Men’s National Team, playing in Melbourne, Australia, where the team won the World Championship. Al was Captain of that team.
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In 1975, Alan was recruited to Manhasset High School, as a Physical Education teacher, and Varsity lacrosse. Dr. Ed Walsh and Steve Collins knew what a phenomenal coach Al was, and what he would bring to Manhasset. He certainly delivered. Over 31 years, Al coached with Bob Rule, a legend in his own sense, and together they combined a legacy of lacrosse that is second to none nationally! The overall record with the Indians – 511 wins and 110 losses. During that run, Manhasset won 2 State Championships, 3 State Runner-Ups, 7 Long Island Championships, 9 County Championships, 23 League, Division or Conference Championships, and many other ‘runner-up’ and finalist placements. He coached 36 High School All-Americans, initiated the Manhasset Lacrosse Hall of Fame with the PBC Director and 2 parents and flipped burgers at many Lacrosse Day of Champions, and enjoyed the #1 National Ranking by Lacrosse Magazine in 2004.
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Al coached many great players; the mutual respect was evident both on and off the field. Al was known for his quick ability to adjust attack and midfield players to present defenses. He observed players’ attributes and molded the players to be the best they could be. Former player Dan Denihan indicated that Coach Lowe knew more about playing and teaching the attack position than anyone he ever came across. That ‘he was solely responsible for changing him to attack’ and credited him with being a master of how the game was played. John Gagliardi echoed those sentiments, by indicating that ‘he let his players be creative and play. US Lacrosse did a statistic in 2010 and found that The High School with the most D1 All-Americans between the years of 2000-2009 was Manhasset. Coach Lowe set the standard for great players, who encouraged teammates, and demanded pride.
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He was recognized with numerous awards including 1978, and 1995 NCLCA Coach of the year, 1992 Man of the Year, and was named Assistant Coach of the Empire State Team in 1985, and Head Coach in 1986. He was named in 1986 to the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 1990 to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and subsequently to the University of Maryland, Nassau County Athletic, Manhasset Lacrosse, and Manhasset Athletic Hall of Fames.
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As a founding member of the LIMLF, Alan contributed to the organization with not only leadership but with passion. He served as Secretary and President, and was Co-Chair of the dinner committee, ran clinics, was Chairman and Director of the 1992 U19 World Games. He helped initiate the Lacrosse Jamboree and the Greenport Lacrosse Shootout.
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Al is the proud father of Darren (Brown ’92) and Kevin (Princeton (’94) who also are members of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2007 and 2009 respectively), making the Lowe family one of the few father/son combinations of the National Hall of Fame.
Alan is married to Nancy, and they now reside in Hudson, Florida. He is enjoying watching his grandchildren’s sports events, and plays golf regularly with the great southern weather!
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Congratulations Al – your Lacrosse experiences are unprecedented, your knowledge of the game is stellar, and your contributions to the game have been and always will be remarkable!
Bob Hartranft
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Bob loved baseball and basketball. He knew nothing about lacrosse. You live and you learn, and then all Hartranft did was win. For 48 years, he was the varsity boy’s lacrosse coach at Farmingdale High School. His career as a coach started in 1969 and lasted until his retirement in 2016.
Bob is the third-winningest high school lacrosse coach in the country behind Mike Messere and Joe Cuozzo. He has a career record of 708 wins against 217 losses for a win percentage of 76.5. He has a playoff record of 92 wins and 45 losses(67.2%). His teams have won 27 Conference Championships, 13 Nassau County Championships while appearing in 22, and 4 Long Island Championships. His team have made 3 State Final appearances and won the New York State Championship in 2011.
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Bob’s teams have made appearances in 33 Nassau County Final Four appearances (21 in a row 1985-2005: Nassau record). Under his leadership, Farmingdale has made 44 playoff appearances(42 in a row:1975-2016, second only to Manhasset). Coach Hartranft always believed that defense wins championships. From 1977-2016, the Farmingdale record when giving up 7 goals or less was 552-50 (91.7%). He has coached 40 High School All Americans in his prestigious career.
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His personal accomplishments include: He was Head Coach for the USA U-19 Gold Medal Team in 1992. He was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the same year. In 2011, he was named National Coach of the Year. In 2013, Bob was awarded the Gerald Carroll, Jr. Award from US Lacrosse. In 2015, he was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was inducted into the Nassau County High School Hall of Fame and the NFHS-NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame.
Bob Shriver
Boys’ Latin School, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach 1980-2015
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Bob Shriver is considered by many to be one of the best high school lacrosse coaches of all time after roaming the Boys’ Latin sidelines for 40 years – 36 spent as the head coach. Shriver is a 1969 graduate of Boys’ Latin and a 1973 graduate of Washington College. During his time in Chestertown, he was a four-year letterman, twice captain of the Sho'men, and a two-time All-American selection as a midfielder. He was inducted into the Washington College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. Bob played in the 1973 North-South All-Star game, was an alternate on the USA National Team in 1974 and 1978, and played in the professional box league for the Maryland Arrows, and Boston Bolts.
Shriver returned to Boys’ Latin as a science teacher and assistant varsity lacrosse coach in 1975, taking the varsity reins from Ridge Warfield four years later. Shriver guided the Lakers to their first Maryland Scholastic Association "A" Conference title in nineteen years when they defeated Loyola 7-4 in the 1985 title game. BL again won "A" Conference championships in 1988, 1997, 2002, 2006, and 2014–the ‘97, ‘06, and ‘14 teams were all undefeated and declared consensus National Champions. Under Shriver, who was inducted into the US Lacrosse Baltimore Chapter’s Hall of Fame in February of 1998, the Lakers have been perennial contenders in the very competitive MIAA "A" Conference, generally regarded as the strongest league in the country. His record is nothing short of remarkable going 507-140 for a 78.4% winning percentage – his win total being tops in the Baltimore Metro Area and his percentage among the best in the nation. Since Shriver’s first year as head coach in 1980, no Boys’ Latin varsity lacrosse team has ever had a losing record and 15 of his 36 teams reached the championship game. He coached scores of all-metro players, high school All-Americans, and many more who became college All-Americans. Seven of his players were named the winner of the C. Markland Kelly trophy, awarded annually to the best high school lacrosse player in the state of Maryland. He was named the 2013 National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association High School Coach of the Year and in 2014, The Baltimore Sun named him the All-Metro Lacrosse Coach of the Year for the last time – an honor bestowed on him another five times in his tenure on Lake Avenue. Bob has also been the assistant coach on two USA U19 teams, 1988 and 1999, and was the U19 Head Coach in 2003. Each of those teams won the World Championship and was undefeated.
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Shriver and his wife of 36 years Jasmine reside in Timonium, Maryland. They raised two sons, Bobby Jr. and David. Bobby Jr., who passed away in 2015, was born with Down syndrome and brought out a totally different side of Shriver than the intense coach whose distinctive voice could be heard across MIAA fields for decades. In a Baltimore Sun article in 2015 as retirement was nearing, Shriver was quoted as saying about his son - “Bobby knows I coach lacrosse, but he doesn’t have any idea whether we won or lost. So when you come home, it brings you back pretty quickly.”
Since retiring from coaching in 2015, Shriver has continued to work as a teacher at Boys’ Latin while also enjoying time on the golf course. He also does his best to attend the games of his son David who has followed his father’s footsteps and is an assistant lacrosse coach at Georgetown, his alma mater. Shriver of course has not been able to escape the Tuesday and Friday grind of the MIAA “A” Conference as he has found a role providing color commentary.
Bob Streeten
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Bob Streeten was the firstborn son of two doctors: Endocrinologist David and Ophthalmologist Barbara, who lovingly taught him how to become a workaholic. In addition, they stressed to him the importance of finding his personal passion. These traits were also successfully transferred to sister Dr. Elizabeth and brother John, whom both have had tremendously successful careers.
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The first stick he received was a wooden one from his neighbor Clem Murray in 1970, who later become a goalie for Syracuse University. Once he started playing lacrosse in tenth grade at Nottingham, his baseball career was overdue to the similarities to his favorite sport of football. The love of both sports brought him into contact with a major mentor, HS football coach Jim Palla. Coach Palla had the personality to relate to young men from privileged households and disadvantaged inner-city families. In a high school that reflected the racial tensions of the tumultuous times, America was going through, Coach Jim was still able to get these young men to work together on the football team.
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The love of lacrosse moved to an equal status with football into the spring of 1973, when Bob became the combined Syracuse City School District’s first HS All American. Naturally the college he selected for the next stage of his academic journey needed to have successful teams in both sports, which led him to Hobart College. As a Statesman from the fall of 1973 to the spring of 1977, he benefited from playing for Hall of Fame Coaches Jerry Schmidt and Dave Urick, although his playing time was less than HS the watching contributed to his learning of the game. Upon graduation with a Psychology Degree, Bob started Graduate School at Syracuse University. This allowed him the time to start his official coaching career in Football and Lacrosse at Nottingham for two years. During the fall of 1979 with the help of super lacrosse mentor Mike Messere, he was hired to teach Social Studies at West Genesee HS and coach with the varsity lacrosse team plus the JV football team for two successful seasons. Coach Messere showed his young assistant how a complete program needed to be an extension of the man at the top and that it was not just a spring sport. Bob witnessed and learned about one of the most complete youth lacrosse programs in the USA at Shove Park.
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The summer after the first State Championship for the Wildcats in 1981, two school lacrosse programs opened up. His former teammate and friend Terry Corcoran called Bob to ask him to apply to his father’s school Corning East HS. Bob was hired in the fall of 1981, which led to an overtime loss in the Section Four Championship Game of 1982. From 1985-2010 the Trojans won the Sectional Crown 24/25 years. The program in 1989 climbed to consistently be the Top” B” or “C” level program in Upstate New York as evidenced by their thirteen trips to the NYS Championship Game in twenty-two years (1989-2010). The Trojans reached the pinnacle of high school athletic achievement by winning the NYS Class B Championship in 1990. In addition to this consistent team success, well over 100 Trojan graduates earned the opportunity to play lacrosse at the Division One level with twice as many playing at Division 2 and 3.
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The biggest components of the program’s success (544 wins) were starting the players in second or third grades at day camps and box lacrosse, encouraging the best athletes in the school to try lacrosse, developing the expectation of playing in college while creating a culture of compliance. The culture could not have been created unless Bob was almost always present. Every spring the Corning East players started with the expectation and desire to be NYS Champions.
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None of this could have been achieved without longtime outstanding assistant coaches: Joe Tobia, Bob Thompson, and Randy Holden. In addition, both of his son’s Duncan and David spent time coaching with Bob and continue to have successful coaching careers of their own today. The most supportive person for the last 25 years has been his loving wife Suzanne, who was always behind Bob’s efforts through the good and tough times. She also helped her husband realize that none of this would have happened without Jesus Christ in his life!
Guy Whitten
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For more than three decades Guy Whitten played a pivotal role in the lives of hundreds of young people in Wilton, CT, and beyond. As a math teacher and head lacrosse coach at Wilton High School for 26 seasons, Coach Whitten’s commitment to building the program in Wilton from the ground up, his influence on the sport of lacrosse throughout the state, and the impact he created on the lives of the young men he coached can still be felt today nearly 25 years since he retired in 1995.
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During his coaching tenure (1969-1995) at Wilton, Coach Whitten achieved a record of 410 wins and 77 losses, winning 17 C.I.A.C. state championships and 11 F.C.I.A.C. county championships. Throughout his career, he aided 40 young men in achieving All American recognition and 97 achieving 1st Team All-State recognition. In 1988 he was named Head Coach for the inaugural U-19 U.S.A National Team that competed in Adelaide Australia and won the World Championship. For his efforts he was awarded CT Coach of the Year 4 times, New England Coach of the Year in 1980, CT Man of the Year 3 times, and US Lacrosse Man of the year in 1992. Coach Whitten was recognized by the Town of Wilton with its Distinguished Citizen Award in 1986, WHS & WLA Hall of Fames, CT Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, C.I.A.C. & F.C.I.A.C. Hall of Fames, and National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year & Hall of Fame.
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Throughout Coach Whitten’s career, he not only supported the high school varsity team but spent countless hours helping to foster the growth of lacrosse in Wilton and beyond. After briefly playing the game upon graduating from the University of Maine, Coach Whitten fell in love with the sport of lacrosse and was passionate about starting a team and building the sport. In the early days of his career Coach Whitten was one of a handful of volunteers that built the foundation of Wilton Lacrosse and put it on the path toward future success. Coach Whitten established the Wilton Lacrosse Association to help foster and grow the sport for players and parents in the town, he built the Wilton Youth League that fostered a sense of fun and growth for young players, he supported the development of the Wilton Travel League and coached both his sons’ youth teams, ran the Fairfield County All-Star Lacrosse Camp, and during his time in Wilton supported the woman’s program in town and throughout the state. Coach Whitten also lent his time and energy to build the sport beyond Wilton by serving in numerous leadership positions within the Connecticut HS Lacrosse Coaches Association, National Lacrosse Coaches Association, US Lacrosse Association, helped organize the first National North/South All-Star Game in 1983 and supported the formation of C.O.N.N.Y. youth league.
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Coach Whitten wants, especially, to thank the N.I.L.C.A. as well as John and Joe for including him in this inaugural class. As he reflects on his career, he is humbled by this recognition, is honored to be included with such an incredible class of peers, and feels grateful for the opportunity to have worked with many of these men as they fostered the sport in its early days. Coach Whitten also wants to acknowledge and say thank you for all the support he has received from assistant coaches, family, parents, players, and the community as a whole along the way. If you were to ask Coach what he is most proud of from his career it would be that he had the opportunity to mentor hundreds of boys along their journey to becoming successful men, husbands, and fathers.
Joe Cuozzo
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After a schoolboy athletic career in Yonkers, New York, Joe Cuozzo attended Cortland StateUniversity where he played football and lacrosse. Mr. Cuozzo trained for a career in Physical Education and began teaching at Bay Shore High School on Long Island. After eight years, he moved to a new high school in Setauket, NY, and in 1969 began the boy's varsity lacrosse program at Ward Melville HS in competitive Suffolk County. Since those early days, the Patriot lacrosse program has become one of the nation’s best. With an average season of eighteen wins and 1 loss, Cuozzo’s Ward Melville teams won seven New York State Championships, fifteen Long Island Championships, thirty-one Suffolk County Championships, and thirty-two Division Championships. His Mount Sinai teams won one State Title and two County Championships.
Cuozzo is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, The National High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Cortland State Hall of Fame, and the Suffolk County Hall of Fame. Joe was also the National High School Athletic Association Special Sports Coach of the Year. He coached the North Team to victory in the first Under Armour All-American games in 2006.
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Joe Cuozzo has coached 54 High School All Americans. Former Patriot players are found on the rosters of many colleges and universities. Drew Casino(Princeton), Chris Passavia(Maryland), Liam Banks(Syracuse), Mike Ward(Duke), and Greg Cattrano (Brown), all have been professional players. Many of his former players are now head coaches at high schools and colleges around the country. His teams are known for defense, being well-conditioned, unselfish ball movement, and coming from behind victories in big games.
John Linehan
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After playing both football and basketball through his high school years, John Linehan’s introduction to lacrosse did not occur until the Spring of his senior year at Haverford High School in Havertown, PA., when in a “what the heck” moment, he decided to go out for the lacrosse team. He went on to play both football and lacrosse for four years at the University of Pennsylvania. In lacrosse, he was privileged to play for legendary National Lacrosse Hall of Fame coaches Avery Blake, Sr., and James “Ace” Adams. After graduating from Penn in 1970, his playing career continued with the Philadelphia Lacrosse Club for four years (’71-’74) and for two years (’74 – ’75) with the Philadelphia Wings in the original National Lacrosse League. While playing for the Philadelphia Lacrosse Club, he was selected twice to play as a member of the South Squad in the U.S. Club Lacrosse Association’s annual All-Star Game.
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John’s lacrosse coaching career began in 1971 when he served as a graduate assistant coach at Penn. In the fall of 1971, he went on to begin his teaching and coaching career at Lower Merion High School, located in Ardmore, PA. There, he served as boys’ varsity head coach for 33 years (1972-2004). During those years, his teams won 10 Central League Championships and advanced to the Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association State playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons, getting to the finals seven times and coming away with four PSLA State Championships (’77, ’79, ’84, ’99). John was selected by his coaching peers as the Penna. Lacrosse Coach of the Year in ’77, ’79, and ’84. For three seasons (’85, ’86, ’87) he also coached the Eagles Eye Club Lacrosse Team and was selected as the U.S. Club Lacrosse Association Coach of the Year in 1986. In 1992, John served as one of the assistant coaches to Bob Hartranft on the World Champion USA Under 19 Team. John also found time to get involved in coaching youth lacrosse in the Lower Merion area when he organized the “house league” branch of Ashbee Youth Lacrosse in 1987, for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. He went on to serve seven years as the commissioner of the “house league”.
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Honors and awards received by John over the years are: 1998, the U.S. Lacrosse "Gerald J. Carroll, Jr. Exemplary Coaching Award", 1998, inducted into the first class of the Eastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 2005, Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Assoc. "Man of the Year", U.S. Lacrosse Century Club Awards: "100", "200", "300", and "400" wins.
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In addition to coaching, John helped to spread the game as an administrative officer for local, state, and national lacrosse organizations. For many years, he served on the board of the Summer League of Southeastern Penna., and was Vice President and eventually President of the Penna. Scholastic Lacrosse Association. On the national level, he served terms as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Association. In addition, he served on the board of the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association (a chapter of U.S. Lacrosse) for 27 years. He also served U.S. Lacrosse on the Men’s National Hall of Fame Nomination Committee from 1997 to 2009 and as Chairman of the High School Committee of the Men's Division of US Lacrosse from 1998 to 2000.
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John has been married to his high school sweetheart Barbara for 47 years and has two children: a son, Commander Rory Linehan (Kristen), USNR of San Diego, CA, and a daughter, Courtney Linden (Jon) of Chester Springs, PA. He and Barbara are also blessed with five grandsons: Jack, Luke, and Baird Linehan, and Noah and Christian Linden.
Mike Messere
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Coach Messere is the All-Time winningest coach in the United States with 846 wins against 85 losses for a win percentage of 91.8. His West Genesee teams have won a leading 15 New York State Championships while appearing in 24 games in his 43 years at the helm of West Genesee. Under Mike’s tutelage, West Genesee is the only New York State High School team to win 4 consecutive NYS Championships(2002, 03, 04, 05).
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Mike was the founder, director, coach, and lacrosse official for the Shove Park Developmental and Recreational Lacrosse program in Camillus. In 40 years the program grew from 13 boys and 25 girls in 1974 to 630 boys and 450 girls in 2014. Mike was also a Gold Medal winner in the 1984 New York State Empire State Games.
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During his career, Coach Messere coached 52 High School All Americans. Many of his former players have gone on to be College All Americans(100). Four players were 4-time AA, fifteen were 3-time AA, Forty-four were 2-time AA, and thirty-eight were 1-time AA. Eighteen of his former players became NCAA Players of the Year and six became NCAA Championship MVPs. Many of his players have gone into coaching high school and college, some are playing professionally, and 4 of them have been inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Coach Messere is a member of several Hall of Fames. They include: Cortland C HOF, Upstate Lacrosse HOF, Greater Syracuse HOF, US Lacrosse HOF, NYSPHSAA HOF, Camillus/West Genesee Sports HOF, National High School HOF, and now the NILCA HOF.
Coach Mike Messere has always been a class act both on and off the field.
Tom Flatley
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Tom Flatley, a graduate of Garden City High School and Lehigh University, is known for his outstanding organizational skills and meticulous preparation.
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Tom Flatley took over the Sewanhaka High School Lacrosse program in 1979 after serving as the Junior Varsity Coach and then the Assistant Varsity Coach for the legendary Bill Ritch. In seven seasons as the leader of the Indians, he compiled a record of 114 wins and 18 losses (86.3%). In 1993, as Head Football Coach of Garden City High School, he became the first head coach to win a Long Island Championship in both football and lacrosse. The Sewanhaka Indians won a Long Island Championship in lacrosse in 1981. After leaving Sewanhaka for Garden City, he became the Junior Varsity Lacrosse Coach until 2019. At Garden City, he compiled a record of 357-31-2 for a 91.8 win percentage.
Outside the high school game, Coach Flatley was involved in other lacrosse activities. He coached the Long Island Lacrosse Club to a championship and with that, he was named as Head Coach of the United States National Team which won a Gold Medal in the World Championship in 1982. He served as the General Manager for the United States U-19 teams which won all seven championships that he was involved in. On the professional level, Tom Served as the General Manager of the New York Saints in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League.
He served as President of the Long Island Summer Lacrosse Association from 1970-1985 and also served on the USLCA Rules Advisory Board.
Tom Flatley is a member of several Hall of Fames. He was inducted in both the Sewanhaka High School and Garden City High School Halls.
In 1988, Tom Flatley was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is a member of the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame. In 2015, He was inducted into the first class of the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. In August, he was presented with the US Lacrosse Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Tonight we honor Tom as being an Inaugural Member of the NILCA Hall of Fame.
Tom Hall
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In the spring of 1964 Tom started lacrosse at his alma mater, Fayetteville Manlius HS; where he played football, basketball, and baseball (yes, baseball). He was introduced to lacrosse at Cortland College (or LCC: Lacrosse Coaches College) and immediately fell in love with the sport. It was also where he met his true love, his wife of 57 years, Sally. At F-M, Tom taught Social Studies and also Coached Football for 29 years. Over his 36 years of coaching Lacrosse Tom amassed an overall record of 454 wins and 185 loses, with only 5 losing seasons; while facing the likes of Lafayette of the ’60s and West Genesee in the ’80s and ’90s. He won 6 league titles; 4 Sectional Championships; and 2-time NYSPHSAA State Runner-up.
When Tom retired he was in the top 5 wins of all time in NYS. Tom was proud to say he had over 350 former athletes to go on to play lacrosse in College; including 17 High School AAs and 28 College AAs. But he is more proud of the fact that many went on to become coaches and referees throughout the country.
Over his tenure as a coach, he was recognized by his peers being named Coach of the Year 5 times; and Man of the Year 5 times, and National Man of the Year by the NILCA. Twice he was honored as National Federation Outstanding Coach for NYS, and National Coach of the Year once; as well as being selected as the J. Carroll Exemplary Coaching Award winner.
But his accomplishments in the sport go beyond just coaching. He served as chairman and president on many different levels for Lacrosse. He served as President of the CNY Coaches Assoc. and Onondaga League Chair from 1966–1999. He was Section III Chair 1975-2011; NYSPHSAA Lacrosse Coordinator 1986-2011. Chairman to USCLA & USLacrosse for 2nd Schools representing CNY 1971-2004, and the Awards Chairman 1978-2010. Tom was also elected as the 1st President of the NILA, serving 1978-1988. He also sat on the 1st National Federation HS Lacrosse Rule Committee 1999-2002. In addition, he served as the North Team coordinator for the HS North-South Game and Coaches Coordinator for the USLacrosse Senior Showcase. And the 1st Empire State Games Lacrosse Chairman. He was also instrumental in starting the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation (formerly Upstate Chapter of USLacrosse). Tom was always about giving back and helping the sport grow; whether it was helping local kids with all-star games (such as NYS v. Maryland; Upstate Rising games); helping opposing coaches with ideas on how to handle different situations, or talking for hours with individuals across the country in developing a program or getting the sport recognized by the school or state as an official sport – not a club sport.
With all he has done with the sport – as a coach or service he has been blessed to be recognized by NYSPHSAA for Outstanding Service Award in 2011; having the NYSPHSAA Class D plague named for him, and being inducted into 5 Hall of Fames. F-M High School; Upstate Lacrosse Foundation (formerly Chapter of USLacrosse); Cortland C Club; NYSPHSAA; Greater Syracuse Sports; and now the NILA.
Tom is very blessed to have Sally by his side for all these years; and they have 4 children – Chris, Stephanie, Geoff, and Sarah. Along with his greatest joys: 4 grandchildren Alison, Mike, and Hilary O’Neil, and Emma Carlson. Tom was fortunate to coach his son and to coach with him for 15 years; as well as help coach his grandson. He truly enjoyed spending time and watching his grandchildren play lacrosse, including seeing his daughter bring the National Championship to Cortland in 2015.
William "Doc" Dougherty
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Doc started his coaching career in 1966 at Sewanhaka High School under the tutelage of Bill Ritch and Tom Flatley. He then moved to Garden City in 1969. He became the head coach in 1974. The winter before his first season as head coach, he traveled over to Hofstra University where he learned his zone defense from Howdy Meyers in which he successfully used his entire career.
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Doc won a staggering 86% of his games with a win-loss record of 565-91. He led his teams to 26 league championships, 11 Nassau County Championships, 9 Long Island Championships, and 4 New York State Championships. His teams were dominant winning 47 straight between 1986 and 1987. He also coached his teams to 3 undefeated seasons in 1986, 1992, and 2000. He was voted league coach of the year 15 times and coach of the year twice. In addition, he coached 42 high school All-Americans.
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During 20 of his 33 years as head coach, he was assisted by Doug Dwyer. Doc claims Doug was one of the most innovative offensive coaches he knew and because of that, he made him a much better defensive coach.
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In 1988, Doc was an assistant coach for the first U-19 National Team that competed in the World Games in Australia. The Head Coach was Guy Whitten and the other assistant was Bob Shriver. In 1996, Doc was selected to be the Head Coach of the United States U-19 team that traveled to Japan. The 1996 team brought home to the United States, a Gold Medal. In 1999 Doc went back to Australia with the Head Coach of the U-19 team, Joe Cuozzo from Ward Melville. His job was to scout the opposing teams but it is believed that he scouted the bars more since Joe needed no help!
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In 2018, Doc was selected to the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Garden City Hall of Fame. Doc feels that tonight’s induction is very special because he is being honored with the incredibly talented group of high school lacrosse coaches.