The Johns Hopkins Gazette: June 19, 2000
June 19, 2000
VOL. 29, NO. 39

  

Former Blue Jay Named Coach of Men's Lacrosse Team

Dave Pietramala departs Cornell to direct program where he was a star player

Johns Hopkins Gazette Online Edition

Dave Pietramala, a 1990 Johns Hopkins graduate and for the last three years the head men's lacrosse coach at Cornell, has been named the head coach of the men's lacrosse team at Hopkins. The announcement was made June 12 by Tom Calder, director of athletics.

Pietramala, who becomes the 22nd coach in the 117-year history (112 seasons) of the Hopkins lacrosse program, takes over for John Haus, who resigned the previous week after two years.

"When the position became available, we immediately set our sights on Dave and could not be happier that he wants to return to Homewood," Calder said. "We are looking forward to him getting started and moving the program forward."

Dave Pietramala

Pietramala turned around a once-prominent Cornell program that had slipped a bit prior to his arrival. In three seasons as the head coach of the Big Red, Pietramala guided Cornell to a 23-17 record, an appearance in the 2000 NCAA Tournament and a final national ranking of ninth in the 2000 STX/USILA poll. Cornell was the only team in the nation to beat eventual national champion Syracuse during the 2000 season, and the Big Red finished second in the Ivy League, with a 5-1 conference record.

"Ever since the day I decided I wanted to be head lacrosse coach, I knew I eventually wanted to be the head coach at Johns Hopkins University," Pietramala said. "I feel very fortunate to be associated with a lacrosse program that has such a rich tradition."

Considered one of the best defensive players in the history of lacrosse, Pietramala was a three-time First Team All-American during his career at Hopkins. He led the Blue Jays to the 1987 NCAA Division I Championship and an appearance in the 1989 NCAA Championship game. He was the recipient of the William C. Schmeisser Award as the nation's outstanding defenseman in 1988 and 1989 and earned the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the nation's most outstanding player in 1989. In addition, he was one of 10 Johns Hopkins players named to the NCAA Silver Anniversary Team in 1995, and he was selected to the All-Time Johns Hopkins Team at the end of his career. Pietramala remains one of just 19 players in school history to earn First Team All-America honors three times. He is one of just five JHU defensemen to earn the honor three times.

Pietramala, who was named to Lacrosse Magazine's All-Century Team last fall, continued his playing career at the club and national level after leaving Hopkins. He was named the outstanding performer at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships in 1990 in Perth, Australia, as a member of the United States' championship team. He earned All-World honors again in 1994 as he led the United States to the title in Manchester, England.

After concluding his career at Hopkins, Pietramala entered the coaching ranks with a one-year stint at nearby prep power Gilman. He returned to Homewood as an assistant in 1991 before taking assistant coaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania and at Loyola. He spent three seasons (1995-97) as the defensive coordinator at Hopkins, helping the Blue Jays to a 31-11 record, three trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in the Final Four. He helped guide the 1995 team to a 12-0 record in the regular season and the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.


GO TO JUNE 19, 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
GO TO THE GAZETTE HOMEPAGE.