FATHER OF LYCOMING LACROSSE STEPS DOWN AFTER FIVE YEARS

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College men’s lacrosse head coach Gene Peluso has announced his resignation in order to accept the position of Assistant Director for Development and Head Lacrosse Coach at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).                                         

Peluso has been with Lycoming since 1996 when he was named head coach of both the women’s and men’s lacrosse programs in their inaugural seasons at the College. During his five seasons with the Warriors, Peluso has built a program that is now considered one of the best in the Middle Atlantic Conference and has been recognized nationally.

In 2001, Peluso led Lycoming’s men’s team to their most successful season in their brief history. The Warriors went 11-3 in the regular season to win their first-ever MAC regular season championship. They finished the year at 12-4 after placing second in the conference tournament to claim runner-up honors for the third consecutive year. Overall, the program has compiled a record of 41-33 under the direction of Peluso, including a 32-13 mark over the past three seasons.

Peluso has coached two All-Americans – Shawn Rosa in 1998 and Mark Barnes in 1999, 2000 and 2001. He also claims 24 MAC all-star selections including a most valuable player (Barnes in ’99) and a rookie of the year (Sang Duong in 2001).

In addition to his five years in charge of the men’s program, Peluso spent four seasons at the helm of the women’s program as well. Under his leadership, the Lady Warriors went 18-25 overall and recorded their first winning season in just their fourth year of existence, going 8-7 in 2000. Peluso’s recruiting efforts built the nucleus of the 2001 squad that went 11-5 under the direction of first-year head coach Katherine Roberts.

“We want to thank Coach Peluso for starting our lacrosse program and bringing it to the level that it is today,” said Lycoming’s Director of Athletics Frank Girardi. “We want to wish he and his family the very best as he begins his new position at RIT.”

At RIT, Peluso will inherit a program with a long tradition of excellence. Founded in 1968, the Tigers’ men’s lacrosse program has an all-time record of 285-169 and has appeared in the NCAA playoffs nine times, most recently in 1999 when they advanced to the national semifinals.

“We were really struck by Gene in a positive way. He really presented himself as a total professional,” said Louis Spiotti, Director of the Center for Human Performance at RIT. “Gene possesses the qualities of a coach, a teacher and a mentor that we strive for at RIT.

“The students that met Gene were equally impressed and were excited by his enthusiasm. We are very pleased that Gene is joining us at RIT and we are confident that he will do great things for the lacrosse program and the institution as a whole.”

“This is a good decision for me and my family. We are very excited about the opportunity waiting for us at RIT,” said Peluso. “But we are also saddened by the prospect of leaving Lycoming. Five years ago lacrosse at Lycoming was started from nothing and now it is a strong program and more importantly a strong family. Lycoming is a great institution and I will always look back at my time here very fondly. The Warriors will always be a part of me.

“Now we have to get ready for the new challenges that wait for us in Rochester. My family and I are very excited about this new opportunity and we look forward to joining the RIT community.”

A nation-wide search for Peluso’s replacement at Lycoming is currently under way.