BALTIMORE - Marist Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Keegan Wilkinson was named one of six finalists for the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division I Coach of the Year. The honorees were recognized at the organization's December meetings this past weekend before Bill Tierney, head coach of the defending NCAA men's lacrosse champion Denver Pioneers, was announced as the winner.
Wilkinson was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Red Foxes to their most successful season in program history in 2015. In his ninth year with the program and fourth season at the helm, Marist won its second MAAC Championship in program history and went a flawless 6-0 in conference play to capture the regular season title. The Red Foxes advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 10-6 victory over Bryant in a preliminary round matchup held in front of a record lacrosse crowd of 1,873 fans in Tenney Stadium. The 2015 campaign ended with a loss at Syracuse bringing Marist's overall record to 14-4.
Three of Wilkinson's players were MAAC major award winners this past spring. Senior attack Joseph Radin was named Offensive Player of the Year and is the conference's Preseason Player of the Year heading into 2016. Then-senior Patrick Eaker took the 2015 Long Stick Midfielder of the Year honor for the third consecutive season, and then-junior Dominic Montemurro was named 2015 Faceoff Specialist of the Year.
Wilkinson's student-athletes have earned two MAAC Offensive Players of the Year awards, three Long Stick Midfielder of the Year honors, and one MAAC Rookie of the Year and Faceoff Specialist of the Year each. He has coached 12 All-MAAC First Team members, 10 Second Team selections, and five Rookie Team honorees. Ten of his student-athletes have earned spots on the MAAC All-Tournament Team while 19 have landed on the conference's All-Academic Team.
As a head coach Wilkinson is 36-25 overall including 17-7 in conference play with two MAAC Coach of the Year awards to his credit. He had spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for Marist before moving into his current role.
A 2006 graduate of Saint Joseph's University, Wilkinson was a four-year starter at attack and a two-year captain. He finished his career as a Hawk ranked second all-time in assists (83) and seventh in career points (137).
The Red Foxes return 27 student-athletes for the 2016 regular season, which opens with a game against Air Force at 12 p.m. Feb. 20 in Tenney Stadium.