Cornell Lacrosse Promotes Kerwick and Adds Peter Milliman

May 25, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cornell Big Red attackman Rob Pannell (3) drives to the goal around Duke Blue Devils defenseman Henry Lobb (77) during the third quarter of the 2013 NCAA Division I men's lacrosse semifinals at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Photo Credit: Rich Barnes

ITHACA, N.Y. – Ben DeLuca, the Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Cornell Lacrosse, has announced that Matt Kerwick has been named the Mario St. George Boiardi ’04 Assistant Coach of Men’s Lacrosse. Additionally, Peter Milliman will join the staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming season. Milliman will serve as the team’s recruiting coordinator, as well as the defensive coordinator, assisting in all facets of coaching and program management.

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“The Boiardi Assistant Coach is a special title, and one that carries great significance for our program and for me personally” said DeLuca. “Matt assisted with our team’s success in a variety of ways during his first year with us, particularly in the offensive end, and we are fortunate to be able to keep him in Ithaca for another season.”

“I’m equally excited to round out our staff by welcoming Peter Milliman to the Cornell Lacrosse family,” added DeLuca. “Peter brings a diversity of experience as an amateur and a professional player, as well as head coaching and Ivy League experience as a collegiate coach, which we believe makes him the perfect fit for our program. Peter is one of the brightest young coaches in our profession and his knowledge, outstanding work ethic and strong character will have an immediate and substantial impact on our young men and our program in general. We are very fortunate and very grateful for the opportunity to welcome Peter to the Big Red.”

“Matt Kerwick is most deserving of his promotion to the position that honors George and the legacy of leadership that he established,” said J. Andrew Noel, The Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “The boost that Matt provided this past season has been broadly recognized and applauded within our Cornell Lacrosse family. And, the addition of Peter Milliman, in two coordinating roles, adds strength, energy and cohesion to our coaching staff. His experience and knowledge of the game is expected to make an immediate impact. In spite of graduating 16 terrific seniors, the future for Cornell Lacrosse remains extremely bright. Considerable returning talent combines with talented and committed newcomers to launch another exciting season of Big Red Lacrosse.”

Kerwick earns the promotion to the Big Red’s top assistant position after one season on East Hill in which he helped Cornell to a 14-4 record overall and an undefeated Ivy League championship with a mark of 6-0. His work with the offense helped the Big Red to rank first in the country in scoring margin (5.5), second overall in scoring offense (14.56 gpg) and fourth overall in assists per game (7.72). Likewise, Kerwick helped attackman Rob Pannell ’13 to become the NCAA Division I all-time career points leader (354), and with 60 goals and 55 assists, respectively, Steve Mock and Pannell became the first pair of Cornell teammates to register 50 goals and 50 assists in the same season since Mike French (65 goals) and Eamon McEneaney (61 assists) in 1976.

Milliman comes to Cornell after one season as a member of the Princeton coaching staff, despite recently being promoted to the team’s offensive coordinator position. As the assistant defensive coordinator in 2013, he helped the Tigers to a 9-6 record overall and a mark of 4-2 in the Ivy League.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Milliman spent four seasons as the head coach at Division II Pfeiffer, where he amassed a record of 37-26 as his teams improved their win total each year. During his tenure with the Falcons, he was twice named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.

In his final season at Pfeiffer, Milliman led the team to a program-record 12 wins, as the Falcons reached the Conference Carolinas championship game for the second consecutive year, losing to national runner up Limestone 9-5. That season, Pfeiffer reached as high as 10th in the USILA Coaches’ Poll.

Under Milliman the Falcons finished in the top five in DII in goals-against average, man-down defense and scoring margin in each of his final two seasons and led the nation in save percentage in 2011 (.657). He also coached 13 players who combined to earn 21 all-conference selections, including a program record nine in 2012. He also coached two Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year selections, as well as the program’s first All-American in a decade.

Before taking over at Pfeiffer, Milliman spent two years as an assistant coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology, with a one-year stint as an assistant at Siena. In his time as an assistant coach, the Tigers and Saints went a combined 36-16 overall and 21-5 in their respective conferences.

A 2012 graduate of Empire State College with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Milliman was a three-time Division III All-America at Gettysburg, where he helped the Bullets to two NCAA Division III championship games. He was a three-time All-Centennial Conference pick and was selected to participate in the annual USILA North-South All-Star Game.

Following his time at Gettysburg, Milliman went on to play professionally for four years with Major League Lacrosse’s Rochester Rattlers, winning an MLL Championship in 2008.

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