Head coach Gary Gait earned the IWLCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year award after leading Syracuse to the 2008 NCAA semifinals.
Orange Mentor and All-American Returns to Action
10/15/2008 6:46:13 PM | Women's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University women’s lacrosse head coach Gary Gait will resume his playing career with the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Gait will continue to lead the Orange, which he guided to the most successful season in the program’s history in 2008.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to demonstrate to our young student-athletes the effort and commitment necessary to play at the pro level,” Gait said. “I expect no conflicts with my full-time position at Syracuse. In fact, most NLL players have full-time jobs.”
Coaching at the collegiate level while playing professionally is nothing new for Gait. He retired from the NLL in 2005 after playing 15 seasons with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power and Colorado Mammoth. In nine of those seasons, Gait also served as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland. The Terrapins won seven national titles during that span.
In 1991 with Detroit, he was named the NLL Rookie of the Year, and later in his career he was selected the league’s MVP a record six times, including consecutive (1995-99). He was also an All-Pro every season and led the NLL in points and goals seven times. He also won three league championships, leading the Turbos to the title in 1991 and the Wings to consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. In 2006, he was selected as one of five charter members of the league’s Hall of Fame. Gait ranks second in league history in goals (596), third in assists (495) and second in points (1,091).
After retiring, Gait coached Colorado for two seasons, leading the Mammoth to two playoff appearances and the 2006 Champion’s Cup.
Gait, a 2005 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, took over the helm of the Syracuse women’s program in August 2007. In his first year, Gait guided the Orange to a school-record 18 wins and the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles. Syracuse earned the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to demonstrate to our young student-athletes the effort and commitment necessary to play at the pro level,” Gait said. “I expect no conflicts with my full-time position at Syracuse. In fact, most NLL players have full-time jobs.”
Coaching at the collegiate level while playing professionally is nothing new for Gait. He retired from the NLL in 2005 after playing 15 seasons with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power and Colorado Mammoth. In nine of those seasons, Gait also served as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland. The Terrapins won seven national titles during that span.
In 1991 with Detroit, he was named the NLL Rookie of the Year, and later in his career he was selected the league’s MVP a record six times, including consecutive (1995-99). He was also an All-Pro every season and led the NLL in points and goals seven times. He also won three league championships, leading the Turbos to the title in 1991 and the Wings to consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. In 2006, he was selected as one of five charter members of the league’s Hall of Fame. Gait ranks second in league history in goals (596), third in assists (495) and second in points (1,091).
After retiring, Gait coached Colorado for two seasons, leading the Mammoth to two playoff appearances and the 2006 Champion’s Cup.
Gait, a 2005 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, took over the helm of the Syracuse women’s program in August 2007. In his first year, Gait guided the Orange to a school-record 18 wins and the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles. Syracuse earned the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
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