NC State Wolfpack men's lacrosse
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina State
men's lacrosse team represented NC State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
from 1973-1982. The team was disbanded after the 1982 season.
instructor. Conroy played college lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts
from 1954 to 1956. The next year NC State approved varsity
status, and began playing against a mix of club and varsity programs, ending with a record of 3-9. That year Colonel Conroy was transferred leaving a vacancy in the coaching position. His successor, Dr. Charles E. Patch, had never coached or seen a full game but did graduate from SUNY Cortland
, one of the nation's premier lacrosse programs.
With a new coach and only 4 of the 19 team members having lacrosse experience, the team went 1-13. After records of 7-7 and 8-8 in 1972 and 1975 respectively, the program began to gain some measure of success. In 1977 the team finally vaulted into the limelight of Division I college lacrosse with the recruitment of three time first-team All American Stan Cockerton
, who still ranks second in all-time NCAA career goals. That year the Wolfpack finished 10-4 with a No. 14 national ranking. Success continued the next year as NC State defeated perennial powerhouses North Carolina
and Virginia
to end up with a 9-4 record and a No. 9 national ranking. After that year, Dr. Patch resigned to continue the growth of the program, and ex-Virginia assistant coach Larry Gross was hired to take over. The Wolfpack would follow with a 8-4 record, a No. 6 national ranking, and its first and only NCAA tournament appearance.
The tournament culminated in an early first round exit to eventual National Champion Johns Hopkins
. In the next three years the team would go 6-5 in 1980, 7-4 and a No. 11 national rank in 1981, and finally 5-6 in the 1982 season. The team was disbanded following 1982 due to monetary issues, and remains as a club team today playing in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
of the MCLA
. All-time lacrosse player Tim Nelson
was on the Wolfpack squad that final season, transferring to Syracuse where he led the team to a National Title in 1983.
Due to the expansion of the game throughout the country, there has been much more attention placed into the eventual reestablishment of the program. However, similar to the reasons for disbandment, money still remains an issue. As stated by current NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow, “I have a personal appreciation for the sport of lacrosse. That said, I can not foresee a time when we would voluntarily add any sport. The current 23 varsity sports need and deserve our attention and financial support.”
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
men's lacrosse team represented NC State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
from 1973-1982. The team was disbanded after the 1982 season.
The first Wolfpack team, initially granted club status, was introduced in 1972 by Colonel Robert E. Conroy, a military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
instructor. Conroy played college lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
from 1954 to 1956. The next year NC State approved varsity
Varsity
Varsity, a term originally derived from university, may refer to:In geography:*Varsity, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta, Canada*Varsity Lakes, Queensland, a suburb of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia...
status, and began playing against a mix of club and varsity programs, ending with a record of 3-9. That year Colonel Conroy was transferred leaving a vacancy in the coaching position. His successor, Dr. Charles E. Patch, had never coached or seen a full game but did graduate from SUNY Cortland
State University of New York at Cortland
The State University of New York College at Cortland, also officially called SUNY Cortland or informally known as Cortland State, is a coeducational university located in Cortland, New York...
, one of the nation's premier lacrosse programs.
With a new coach and only 4 of the 19 team members having lacrosse experience, the team went 1-13. After records of 7-7 and 8-8 in 1972 and 1975 respectively, the program began to gain some measure of success. In 1977 the team finally vaulted into the limelight of Division I college lacrosse with the recruitment of three time first-team All American Stan Cockerton
Stan Cockerton
Stan Cockerton was an All-American lacrosse player for the NC State Wolfpack men's lacrosse team from 1977 to 1980, leading the Wolfpack to its only NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament appearance in 1979. He is ranked third all-time in NCAA career goals with 193. He led the Wolfpack to 30...
, who still ranks second in all-time NCAA career goals. That year the Wolfpack finished 10-4 with a No. 14 national ranking. Success continued the next year as NC State defeated perennial powerhouses North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to end up with a 9-4 record and a No. 9 national ranking. After that year, Dr. Patch resigned to continue the growth of the program, and ex-Virginia assistant coach Larry Gross was hired to take over. The Wolfpack would follow with a 8-4 record, a No. 6 national ranking, and its first and only NCAA tournament appearance.
The tournament culminated in an early first round exit to eventual National Champion Johns Hopkins
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...
. In the next three years the team would go 6-5 in 1980, 7-4 and a No. 11 national rank in 1981, and finally 5-6 in the 1982 season. The team was disbanded following 1982 due to monetary issues, and remains as a club team today playing in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
The SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference is a lacrosse-only athletic conference affiliated with the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association . The SELC incorporates teams in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and is divided into two divisions,...
of the MCLA
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
. All-time lacrosse player Tim Nelson
Tim Nelson (lacrosse)
Tim Nelson was a three-time first-team All-American NCAA lacrosse player at Syracuse University from 1983 to 1985. He teamed with Brad Kotz to lead the Orange to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1983, as well as two additional appearances in the finals in 1984 and 1985...
was on the Wolfpack squad that final season, transferring to Syracuse where he led the team to a National Title in 1983.
Due to the expansion of the game throughout the country, there has been much more attention placed into the eventual reestablishment of the program. However, similar to the reasons for disbandment, money still remains an issue. As stated by current NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow, “I have a personal appreciation for the sport of lacrosse. That said, I can not foresee a time when we would voluntarily add any sport. The current 23 varsity sports need and deserve our attention and financial support.”