The University of Mary Washington athletic department has hired Andrew "Drew" Delaney as its next varsity head men's lacrosse coach, pending final human resources approval, according to Director of Athletics Ken Tyler. Delaney will replace Kurt Glaeser, who served as men's lacrosse coach for 27 years, and retired following the 2016 season.
"We are very pleased to welcome Drew as our new head men's lacrosse coach", said Tyler on Monday. "We had a large and accomplished group of candidates and Drew distinguished himself from the beginning. He has done a great job as head coach at Elizabethtown, and we were also impressed that he started the team at Arcadia and was an assistant at several traditionally strong lacrosse programs. As I got to know Drew and talked to others about him, it quickly became apparent that he has what it takes to create a positive culture for our lacrosse student-athletes both on and off the field. I anticipate much success for our program and I look forward to working with Drew. It's a great day to be an Eagle!"
"It is a great honor to take over the University of Mary Washington men's lacrosse program", said Delaney. "From the moment I stepped on campus and met all the people involved with UMW athletics, I knew this was the place I wanted to coach. I would like to thank Director of Athletics Ken Tyler and the search committee for giving me this wonderful opportunity. The future is bright and I am looking forward to helping Eagles lacrosse reach new heights!"
Delaney brings a record of success to UMW, having served as head coach at Elizabethtown College for three seasons, from 2014-16. He has posted a 33-16 record during that time, including a 26-9 mark the past two years, going undefeated in league regular season play in each of the past two years. This spring, the Blue Jays finished with a 12-6 record and advanced to the Landmark Conference championship game, with two players gaining All-America honors.
In 2015, the Blue Jays won a school record 14 games (14-3) and finished the regular season unbeaten in conference play (7-0) for the first time. Delaney was named Landmark Coach of the Year by his peers, as the Blue Jays would put together a team record 13-game winning streak from March 7-April and earn the No. 1 seed in the Landmark Conference Championship.
Delaney's inaugural team at EC won seven games and featured four all-conference players.
"I would like to thank Elizabethtown College, the student-athletes, as well as all the coaches, for giving me the ability to take that program to the level it's at now. It was a great experience that I will always remember fondly."
Delaney brought a decade of coaching experience with him to Elizabethtown. The first head coach in Arcadia University history, Delaney spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons constructing the program from scratch. In their first varsity season, the Knights won five games and were competitive against their Freedom Conference foes. Delaney mentored three all-conference selections and the league Rookie of the Year.
Delaney is a 2003 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where he majored in special studies with a focus on history, government and sociology of the modern era. He was a four-year letter winner for the Diplomats on defense and helped F&M reach the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals during his senior season.
Throughout his coaching career, Delaney has been able to learn from some of the best coaches in the industry. Delaney joined Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., as an assistant coach in the summer of 2004, working under the wing of Charlotte Hounds (Major League Lacrosse) head coach Mike Cerino. Delaney also had the chance to learn from Gene McCabe in 2007. The Generals had winning seasons in each of his years with the program, winning 25 games in that time frame.
In the summer of 2007, Delaney reunited with Cerino at Division II Limestone College. He handled defensive coordinator duties for three seasons as the Saints reached the DII Final Four in each season and produced seven All-Americans.
Delaney spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach/defensive coordinator at Washington College, before accepting the head position at Arcadia that summer.
Delaney has served as an advance scout for the Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse, from 2012-16. Outside of coaching, he brings experience as a physical education instructor, assistant sports information director and equipment manager.
Delaney is originally from Maplewood, N.J. His wife, Linda, is a Hall of Famer and former All-American field hockey athlete and three-time all-region selection in women's lacrosse at Lynchburg College.