LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — The Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), officially ended their coaching search by naming Joe Spallina their new head coach, according to Lizards General Manager Casey Hilpert. Spallina, who served as an assistant coach for the previous two seasons, takes over the reins for the 2012 season.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Long Island Lizards,” Spallina said. “I have had the chance and experience to learn from Jim Mule the past two years, and I am forever grateful to have worked with one of the most famed coaches in MLL history. I look forward to bringing this franchise to the top of MLL with a hard working dedicated style of coaching. It is an honor to be coaching in the MLL, especially for one of the original franchises, and I am excited to make the most of this outstanding opportunity. I also want to thank my wife and four children for their unwavering support in adding this position of head coach of the Long Island Lizards to my regular duties as the head coach of the Stony Brook Women’s Lacrosse team.”
Joe Spallina is currently in his first season as head coach of the Stony Brook Women’s Lacrosse team. Spallina spent his previous four seasons at Adelphi University, where he posted a 73-2 record and recorded three consecutive Division II national championships. He has been named the IWLCA National Coach of the Year three times and the Field Turf NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 2009.
“We are excited to name Joe the head coach” said Casey Hilpert. “He is a guy who knows how to win, and is around the sport of lacrosse all the time. We worked closely together this off-season with our drafts and trades and he has a passion and a desire to win that I have not seen anywhere else.”
The Lizards fell just one win short of making the playoffs in 2011 and made many off-season roster changes as well. One of the big moves included bringing Hewlett native Max Seibald to the Long Island Lizards. Spallina hopes to bring the Lizards to Boston for the 2012 MLL Championship Weekend.
About the Long Island Lizards
The Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) was founded in 2001 as one of the original six franchises. Long Island won the Steinfeld Cup in its inaugural season, 2001, as well as in 2003. The Long Island Lizards currently play all of their home games at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium.
