Greg Cannella retires after more than 3 decades with UMass lax

Greg Cannella introduced his retirement as UMass males’s lacrosse coach on Friday, finishing an epic run of greater than three a long time that sits favorably alongside that of his mentor, the legendary Dick Garber.

“To say now we have been lucky is an understatement,” director of athletics Ryan Bamford mentioned in a press release. “The second winningest coach in program historical past, coach Cannella’s legacy can also be widely known for the wonderful private progress of the younger males who performed for him.”

Cannella’s groups received 256 video games and eight convention championships in 31 seasons, reaching 9 NCAA tournaments and — as an unseeded staff — the 2006 championship sport. The 15-7 loss to unbeaten Virginia was the primary title-game look for a New England college.

Cannella received Nationwide Coach of the Yr following that season, to go along with 4 CAA convention honors, 4 ECAC honors, and 5 New England honors in his profession. The 1988 alum’s 256-181 document sits second solely to Garber, whose Gorillas went 300-141-3 from 1955-90 and in addition certified for 9 NCAA tourneys.

Cannella performed for Garber in 1986-87, and served as an assistant for his successor, son Ted Garber, in 1993-94. Cannella took over as head coach in November 1994 after Ted Garber left UMass to educate prep lacrosse at Avon Previous Farms in Connecticut.

“I took great pleasure, as an alum, coming to work every day, sitting in coach Garber’s seat, and doing my finest to hold on his legacy and the custom of excellence he set right here,” Cannella mentioned in a press release, thanking spouse Laurie and their youngsters, Vance and Virginia, amongst others. “I take into account myself very fortunate to have had this chance to be a part of the lives of so many nice folks right here at UMass. These relationships are ones I’ll cherish all the time.”

Kyle Smith, a 2014 UMass product, will exchange Cannella as this system’s fifth head coach in 73 years. Smith served first as an assistant, then affiliate head coach, beneath Cannella the previous 4 seasons following a stint on the workers at Merrimack.