NOVEMBER 21, 2024

The Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) and the US Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) have announced the recipients of their 2024 Annual Awards. Both associations will honor and acknowledge over 16 individuals within men’s college lacrosse on December 13th in Orlando, Florida at their co-hosted Annual Awards Luncheon presented by AXIA Time during the IMLCA’s Coaches Summit event. 

AXIA Time, founded by former University of Pennsylvania Men’s lacrosse player and 1988 Ivy League Champion, John Kanaras, has partnered with both associations to create custom timepieces for the six individuals receiving IMLCA’s Outstanding Coach and USILA’s Coach of the Year honors.

Nominations for the IMLCA’s four awards are submitted by active members of the organization and voted on by an Awards Committee, chaired by Bentley University Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach, Jim Murphy. The IMLCA’s Outstanding Assistant Coaches are each nominated by their respective head coaches and voted on by a committee chaired by retired IMLCA Hall of Fame coach, Jack Emmer.  

The Sticks and Service Award recognizes either a coaching staff or team as a whole, that goes above and beyond for their community when outside the lines and off the field. This award is a byproduct of the Humanitarian Award, one that has only been awarded 3 times over the years of the convention. This award is presented to the Coaching Staff, rather than the players as the Humanitarian Award had done in previous years.

2024 Recipient:  2023-2024 Kean University Men’s Lacrosse Team

The Extra Man Award created in 2013, is presented annually to a university or college administrator who displays the highest level of support for the growth of lacrosse. The name of the award symbolizes the situation in men's lacrosse games when a team has a man-up advantage over its opponent. The IMLCA Extra Man Award recognizes administrators who have expressed efforts to grow the sport of lacrosse.

2024 Recipient: Will Hopkins (NCAA)

The Lifetime Service Award honors those people in the coaching profession who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of men's lacrosse in the United States throughout the duration of their career, and beyond.

2024 Recipient: Jeff Long (retired, Ithaca College)

The Creators Award is bestowed to an IMLCA member for their achievements in the core areas of advocacy, leadership, education, honor, spirit, and service to the game of lacrosse.  

2024 Recipient: Tom Gill (retired, USMMA)

IMLCA Outstanding Assistant Coach Honors presented by AXIA Time:

Division I: Jesse Bernhardt (Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator, University of Maryland)

Division II: Joe Catalanotti (Associate Head Coach, Adelphi University)

Division III: Taylor Mendoza (Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator, Washington & Lee University)

The Scott D. Livie Junior College Coach of the Year Award, named in honor of beloved lacrosse player, coach and mentor from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Scott Livie, recognizes the top coach in the junior college ranks. 

2024 Recipient: Aaron Verardi (Head Coach, Hartford Community College)

Nominations for the USILA’s awards are submitted by members of the organization and voted on by the Board of Directors, chaired by College of Wooster Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Eric Seideman. 

Howdy Myers Man of the Year is presented in honor of one of the sport's most outstanding coaches. Howdy Myers coached 17 championship teams at St. Paul's, Johns Hopkins, and Hofstra. Myers was elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1971. The nominee for this award should have contributed to the game of lacrosse in a capacity over and above the normal efforts and in so doing, has shown unselfish and untiring devotion to the game.

2024 Recipient: Tom Mariano (Head Coach, Pace University)

Frenchy Julien Service Award is presented in honor of former Chief Referee, Joseph R. "Frenchy" Julien for outstanding and continuous service to the sport. This individual should have rendered a lifetime of service, accomplishments, and contributions to the sport, over and above the normal efforts for the game.

2024 Recipient: Matt Palumb (Official, NCAA & Premier Lacrosse League)

Doyle Smith Sports Information Award is presented in honor of the career of outstanding service provided to lacrosse by longtime Virginia Assistant Sports Information Director Doyle Smith. Smith defined the game of collegiate lacrosse through his media releases and statistical and national poll coverage of the sport. His contributions to the former NCAA Lacrosse Rulebook and Guide paved the way for many of the sport's great media efforts today on TV, the Internet, and in print. The winner of this award can come from college sports information offices or from the media. The nominee has contributed greatly to the promotion and coverage of the sport.

2024 Recipient: Ernie Larossa (Associate AD / Athletic Communications, Johns Hopkins University)

USILA Coach of the Year Honors presented by AXIA Time:

Division I: Kevin Corrigan (Head Coach, University of Notre Dame)

Division II: Gordon Purdie (Head Coach, Adelphi University)

Division III: Casey D’Annolfo (Head Coach, Tufts University)

In partnership with the IMLCA and the USILA, the following organizations will also be honoring individuals receiving its annual awards for the 2023-2024 season. 

The HEADStrong Foundation’s Nicholas E. Colleluori Award will be presented to Patrick Myers, head coach of Lafayette College Men’s Lacrosse, for his unwavering commitment to service, compassion, and leadership - values that embody the spirit of Nicholas E. Colleluori and the HEADstrong Foundation’s mission.

Fellow Christian Athletes (FCA)’s Peter Kohn Service Award will be presented to Gordon Purdie, head coach of Adelphi University Men’s Lacrosse, as a member of the lacrosse community who best represents John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” and exemplifies the Christian principles of Integrity, Service, Teamwork and Excellence, on and off the lacrosse field.

Contacts:

J.B. Clarke

Executive Director, IMLCA

jbclarke@imlcacoaches.com

Eric Seideman

President, USILA 

eseideman@wooster.edu 

John Kanaras

Founder, AXIA Time

jk@axiatime.com

www.AXIATime.com

About AXIA Time
AXIA Time, established in 2018, creates custom Swiss Made automatic timepieces that commemorate life's greatest achievements. AXIA Time was born out of founder John Kanaras' love of horology, and his alma mater. After helping to lead the 1988 Penn Quakers to two Lacrosse Ivy League Championships in two years, the university gifted each player a championship watch. For John, the watch held great sentimental value, but didn't measure up to the significance of the memories they represent. For 30 years he looked for a watch of quality and design that would meet that moment. When he couldn't find what he was looking for, he built it himself.

AXIA (ahk-SEE-ah) means "value" or "worth" in Greek. From the designs and high quality of AXIA Time components to an outstanding purchase experience for customers, the heart of the company's mission is to create value for everyone it touches. Learn more at axiatime.com.