Dave Pietramala
Encyclopedia
Dave Pietramala is the current Head Coach
for the Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse team
. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in lacrosse history, and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as both a player and coach, and the only person to be named both player and coach of the year. Born in Hicksville, New York
, he went to St. Mary's High School.
, at the advice of his father, George, who wanted him to play for the lacrosse powerhouse. Dave Pietramala stated that he originally intended to go to the University of Maryland
: "I loved Coach[Dick] Edell
and loved Maryland ... I grew up a huge basketball fan and they had Len Bias
, Keith Gatlin and Lefty Driesell
. I thought it was all set. I was going to Maryland."
At Hopkins, Pietramala was a member of the 1987 National Championship
team. He won the Schmeisser Award
as the nation's top defenseman in 1988 and 1989 and the 1989 Enners Award
as the nation's top player. He was also named a first-team All American three times while at Hopkins.
Pietramala also played at the club level for the storied Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
in the 1990s, the professional level for the Pittsburgh Bulls
in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, and nationally for the United States Men's National Lacrosse team. He won two world championships in the International Lacrosse Federation World Championship, was named All-World in both 1990 and 1994, and Best and Fairest Player (MVP) in 1990.
In addition to these awards, Pietramala was named to the NCAA Silver Anniversary Team in 1995, the All-Time Johns Hopkins Team, and Lacrosse Magazine's All-Century Team. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.
, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania
, and Loyola College
before returning to Johns Hopkins as its defensive coordinator in 1995. In 1998 he took over the head coaching job at Cornell University
, where he was named the national Coach of the Year
in 2000.
In 2001, he took the head coaching position at his alma mater, where he has revitalized the Hopkins program. In his nine years at the helm, the Blue Jays have a 106-30 record nine NCAA Tournament appearances, six NCAA Final Four appearances, National Championship game appearances in 2003 and 2008, and the 2005
and 2007 National Championships
.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse team
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays lacrosse
The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team represents Johns Hopkins University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college lacrosse. The team was founded in 1883 and is the school's most prominent sports team...
. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in lacrosse history, and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as both a player and coach, and the only person to be named both player and coach of the year. Born in Hicksville, New York
Hicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
, he went to St. Mary's High School.
Playing career
Pietramala chose to attend Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns 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...
, at the advice of his father, George, who wanted him to play for the lacrosse powerhouse. Dave Pietramala stated that he originally intended to go to the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
: "I loved Coach
Dick Edell
Richard "Dick" Edell is an American former lacrosse coach. He served as the head coach for the University of Maryland, United States Military Academy, and University of Baltimore's men's lacrosse teams...
and loved Maryland ... I grew up a huge basketball fan and they had Len Bias
Len Bias
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...
, Keith Gatlin and Lefty Driesell
Lefty Driesell
Charles Grice "Lefty" Driesell is an American former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Davidson College, James Madison University, and Georgia State University. During his 41-year coaching career, Driesell led teams from each school to the NCAA...
. I thought it was all set. I was going to Maryland."
At Hopkins, Pietramala was a member of the 1987 National 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....
team. He won the Schmeisser Award
Schmeisser Award
The William C. Schmeisser Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding defenseman in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after William C. "Father Bill" Schmeisser, a player and coach for Johns Hopkins University in the early 1900s. ...
as the nation's top defenseman in 1988 and 1989 and the 1989 Enners Award
Lt. Raymond Enners Award
The Lt. Raymond Enners Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding player in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after Raymond Enners, who attended the United States Military Academy, class of 1967, and served in the U.S. Army during the...
as the nation's top player. He was also named a first-team All American three times while at Hopkins.
Pietramala also played at the club level for the storied Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club is an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the...
in the 1990s, the professional level for the Pittsburgh Bulls
Pittsburgh Bulls
The Pittsburgh Bulls were a member of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1990 to 1993.They were based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The National Lacrosse League would return to Pittsburgh in 2000 with the Pittsburgh Crossefire, but the team would only stay for one season before moving to become...
in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, and nationally for the United States Men's National Lacrosse team. He won two world championships in the International Lacrosse Federation World Championship, was named All-World in both 1990 and 1994, and Best and Fairest Player (MVP) in 1990.
In addition to these awards, Pietramala was named to the NCAA Silver Anniversary Team in 1995, the All-Time Johns Hopkins Team, and Lacrosse Magazine's All-Century Team. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.
Coaching career
After 1991, Pietramala took jobs as an assistant coach at Gilman SchoolGilman School
Gilman School is a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1897 as the Country School for Boys, it was the first country day school in the United States. Gilman enrolls approximately 978 students, ranging from kindergarten to...
, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, and Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
before returning to Johns Hopkins as its defensive coordinator in 1995. In 1998 he took over the head coaching job at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he was named the national 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....
in 2000.
In 2001, he took the head coaching position at his alma mater, where he has revitalized the Hopkins program. In his nine years at the helm, the Blue Jays have a 106-30 record nine NCAA Tournament appearances, six NCAA Final Four appearances, National Championship game appearances in 2003 and 2008, and the 2005
2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 35th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament...
and 2007 National Championships
2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 12 through May 28, 2007. This was the 37th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
.