Bill Tierney
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Tierney is a Hall of Fame lacrosse
coach at the University of Denver
.
Tierney played collegiate lacrosse at Cortland State, where in 1973, he played on the USILA national championship team. Following college, Tierney pursued a master's degree at Adelphi University
, and coached high school lacrosse at Great Neck South High School
, then Levittown Memorial High School.
In 1982, Tierney's took his first collegiate coaching position with the Rochester Institute of Technology
. He took the team to its first NCAA tournaments in both 1983 and 1984. In 1983, he earned the Division III Coach of the Year. Following this success, Tierney joined the Johns Hopkins University
Blue Jays as an assistant lacrosse coach (winning two national championships), and also served as head coach of the soccer team from 1985 to 1987.
In 1988, Tierney accepted the position as head coach of the Princeton Tigers
. He acquired a program that was underdeveloped, and quickly turned it around. Tierney's Tigers won six NCAA championships (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2001
) in nine years, and have appeared in eight NCAA championship games, nine NCAA Final Fours and 11 Ivy League championships. In 1992, Tierney was awarded USILA Coach of the Year
honors.
Internationally, Tierney coached Team USA in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championships
In 2002, Tierney was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame with the distinction of being "a truly great coach."
In 1998 and 2001, Tierney and his sons Trevor
(a goaltender) and Brendan (midfield/attack), became the first father-sons combination to win a NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
together. His daughter, Brianne Tierney is currently the head lacrosse coach at Lebanon Valley College.
Coach Tierney began coaching the men's lacrosse team at the University of Denver on July 1, 2009. Coach Tierney called the change a "wonderful opportunity to start this new chapter in my life."
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
coach at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
.
Tierney played collegiate lacrosse at Cortland State, where in 1973, he played on the USILA national championship team. Following college, Tierney pursued a master's degree at Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
, and coached high school lacrosse at Great Neck South High School
Great Neck South High School
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School is an American top public four-year high school. It is located in Lake Success, serving students in grades 9 through 12. However, GNSHS is officially listed in Great Neck...
, then Levittown Memorial High School.
In 1982, Tierney's took his first collegiate coaching position with the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
. He took the team to its first NCAA tournaments in both 1983 and 1984. In 1983, he earned the Division III Coach of the Year. Following this success, Tierney joined the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Blue Jays as an assistant lacrosse coach (winning two national championships), and also served as head coach of the soccer team from 1985 to 1987.
In 1988, Tierney accepted the position as head coach of the Princeton Tigers
Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
. He acquired a program that was underdeveloped, and quickly turned it around. Tierney's Tigers won six NCAA championships (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2001
2001 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2001 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship game was played at Rutgers Stadium in front of 24,135 fans. A Princeton goal with 41 seconds remaining in the first overtime period lifted second-seeded Tigers to a 10-9 victory against top-seeded Syracuse . With the victory, Princeton earned its sixth...
) in nine years, and have appeared in eight NCAA championship games, nine NCAA Final Fours and 11 Ivy League championships. In 1992, Tierney was awarded USILA Coach of the Year
F. Morris Touchstone Award
The F. Morris Touchstone Award is an award given by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I Lacrosse Head Coach. The award was first presented in 1958....
honors.
Internationally, Tierney coached Team USA in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championships
In 2002, Tierney was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame with the distinction of being "a truly great coach."
In 1998 and 2001, Tierney and his sons Trevor
Trevor Tierney
Trevor R. Tierney is a current National Collegiate Athletic Association men's lacrosse assistant coach, former Major League Lacrosse defensive coordinator and retired lacrosse goaltender who has played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in MLL...
(a goaltender) and Brendan (midfield/attack), became the first father-sons combination to win a NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
together. His daughter, Brianne Tierney is currently the head lacrosse coach at Lebanon Valley College.
Coach Tierney began coaching the men's lacrosse team at the University of Denver on July 1, 2009. Coach Tierney called the change a "wonderful opportunity to start this new chapter in my life."