Gait Named to IWLCA 2026 Hall of Fame Class
11/21/2025 10:04:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, New York – Gary Gait, one of the most innovative players and coaches in the game of lacrosse, will be inducted into the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Hall of Fame in 2026. The IWLCA announced its 2026 Hall of Fame class on Friday, November 21.
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Gait served as the head coach for the Orange women's program from 2008-21 and guided the team to unprecedented success. During his tenure, Syracuse made eight appearances at Championship Weekend, including five-straight years from 2012-16, and advanced to the national finals in 2012, 2014 and 2021. The Orange also won three conference tournament crowns and six regular-season league titles.
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Under his tutelage, four players – Katie Rowan, Michelle Tumolo, Alyssa Murray and Kayla Treanor – were named finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, which recognizes the top lacrosse player in the nation. In addition, Gait mentored four players who earned IWLCA Player of the Year honors six times. Members of the Orange earned IWLCA All-America honors 34 times in Gait's 14 seasons at the helm of the program, including Treanor and Halley Quillinan, who were four-time All-America honorees.
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He led Syracuse to a record of 214-75 (.740) before taking over the helm of the Orange men's lacrosse program after the 2021 season. Gait was a four-time conference and IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year.
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Gait started coaching in the women's game as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins compile a record of 164-16 (.911) in nine seasons, including four undefeated campaigns and seven-straight NCAA championships (1995-01).
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Gait adds to his long list of honors, which includes enshrinement in the National Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League (NLL) Halls of Fame. He will be joined in the 2026 induction class by University of Florida head coach Amanda O'Leary.
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The induction ceremony will take place in November 2026 in conjunction with the IWLCA Convention, which will be held in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
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Gait served as the head coach for the Orange women's program from 2008-21 and guided the team to unprecedented success. During his tenure, Syracuse made eight appearances at Championship Weekend, including five-straight years from 2012-16, and advanced to the national finals in 2012, 2014 and 2021. The Orange also won three conference tournament crowns and six regular-season league titles.
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Under his tutelage, four players – Katie Rowan, Michelle Tumolo, Alyssa Murray and Kayla Treanor – were named finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, which recognizes the top lacrosse player in the nation. In addition, Gait mentored four players who earned IWLCA Player of the Year honors six times. Members of the Orange earned IWLCA All-America honors 34 times in Gait's 14 seasons at the helm of the program, including Treanor and Halley Quillinan, who were four-time All-America honorees.
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He led Syracuse to a record of 214-75 (.740) before taking over the helm of the Orange men's lacrosse program after the 2021 season. Gait was a four-time conference and IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year.
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Gait started coaching in the women's game as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins compile a record of 164-16 (.911) in nine seasons, including four undefeated campaigns and seven-straight NCAA championships (1995-01).
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Gait adds to his long list of honors, which includes enshrinement in the National Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League (NLL) Halls of Fame. He will be joined in the 2026 induction class by University of Florida head coach Amanda O'Leary.
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The induction ceremony will take place in November 2026 in conjunction with the IWLCA Convention, which will be held in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
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