Stony Brook, N.Y. - Ward Melville High School graduate and Colgate head men's lacrosse coach Jim Nagle has been named head coach at Stony Brook University, Director of Athletics Jim Fiore announced Monday. Nagle, and new women's lacrosse coach Joe Spallina, will be formally introduced at a press conference Tuesday at Stony Brook's Goldstein Family Student-Athlete Development Center at 3 p.m.
"With the hiring of Jim Nagle, we have brought in a highly experienced, respected and motivated head coach, a Suffolk County native and son of the Three Village community," Fiore said. "Coach Nagle is committed to continuing to build Stony Brook University men's lacrosse into a national power. His infectious passion and competitiveness helped the Colgate program reach heights never achieved, and he has now come home to lead Stony Brook to exciting new places. We expect the men's lacrosse program to continue its upward trajectory towards contending for a spot in the NCAA Championship under his leadership."
Nagle, who becomes only the sixth head coach in the 29-year history of Stony Brook men's lacrosse, was 86-64 (.573) in 10 seasons with the Raiders, winning at least 10 games in four of the last six seasons. He is the winningest coach in Raiders history and is a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year. Nagle mentored four All-Americans during his tenure, including Brandon Corp, Colgate's only first-team All-American and a three-time Patriot League Player of the Year.
"I want to thank President Stanley and Jim Fiore for the opportunity to coach at such a distinguished institution, one that I know well and have seen grow immensely during the last 40 years," Nagle said. "I grew up in Stony Brook, and I know how much lacrosse means to the University, the Three Village community and to all of Long Island. I am excited to take over what is an already strong men's lacrosse program and continue to build its national profile."
In 2011, Nagle led Colgate to an 11-5 record, an appearance in the Patriot League championship game and a win over NCAA runner-up Maryland. The team ended the season ranked No. 12 in the USILA Coaches Poll and No. 14 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, and narrowly missed earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. In 2009, Nagle overcame a rough start in the regular season to lead his team to a program-record eight consecutive victories and finish 5-1 in the Patriot League, good for second place. The team was ranked as high as No. 13 and boasted the school's first ever Tewaaraton Award finalist in Corp. In 2008, Nagle led Colgate to its only Patriot League championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. That season included a second straight victory over Syracuse, which was ranked second at the time and went on to win the national championship. The Raiders finished the season ranked 10th in the USILA Coaches Poll.
When Nagle took over Colgate, the Raiders had been 7-19 over the previous two seasons. Nagle led the team to a 7-7 mark in his first season in 2001 and then followed up with an 8-7 overall and a 4-2 conference record to help him earn Patriot League Coach of the Year honors. After two more seasons of .500 or better records, Nagle led Colgate to its best-ever Division I finish in 2006, posting an 11-4 record and 5-2 in conference, good for the school's first-ever regular season title. He was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year once again. He continued to reach new heights by taking Colgate to the Patriot League Championship final for the first time in school history in 2007 before finally breaking through with his milestone 2008 campaign.
Nagle's first head-coaching job was at Oneonta State, where he was 65-39 (.625) in seven seasons. In 1999, Nagle led the Red Dragons to a No. 11 ranking and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, earning USILA Division III Coach of the Year honors. In his seven seasons, he was named conference Coach of the Year three times, and in 1998, Oneonta State boasted the nation's best regular season record at 12-1.
Nagle got his coaching start as an assistant coach at Springfield College from 1992-94, helping the Pride to an ECAC Championship in 1993 and an NCAA Division II Championship in 1994.
Nagle played collegiate lacrosse at Loyola College, where he was part of a Greyhounds squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including a spot in the 1990 title game. Nagle earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Loyola in 1992. He also earned his master's degree in Physical Education from Springfield in 1994.
Nagle played on Ward Melville's 1988 state championship team, which went 24-0. He was an All-Suffolk County selection.
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