Return to Pointer View home page May 27,  2005

Emmer retires as lacrosse's winningest active coach 

By Jim Zuhlke
Athletic Media Relations

Army’s Jack Emmer, college lacrosse’s all-time winningest head coach and one of its most recognizable ambassadors, announced his retirement from coaching Monday after 36 years on the sidelines.

One of only two head coaches in NCAA history to lead three different schools to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, Emmer retires with a record 326 career wins to his credit, 16 NCAA Tournament berths and five semifinal appearances. The future Hall of Famer authored a 326-184 (.639) ledger at SUNY Cortland, Washington & Lee and Army from 1970-2005. The longest tenured head coach at the U.S. Military Academy was 186-131 (.587) during his stay along the banks of the Hudson. Emmer plans to move to Upstate New York and spend more time with his family.

One of the most respected and decorated head coaches in college lacrosse, Emmer guided the Black Knights to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. His 16 postseason appearances are tied for second most in NCAA history behind only Roy Simmons Jr., who made 19 trips with Syracuse. Emmer steered Army to the NCAA Tournament a school-record eight times.

“The opportunity to coach lacrosse and to be associated with the U.S. Military Academy for the past 22 years has been a phenomenal experience for my family and I. We feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity. The relationships we have developed with the young men who have played Army lacrosse will impact us for the rest of our lives.

“To realize I have made a contribution to developing the leadership qualities of these young men as they become officers in the U.S. Army is very fulfilling, and I wish the academy great success in its future athletic endeavors,” he added.

Emmer’s Army squads won or shared 10 Patriot League championships over the past 15 years, including five straight titles outright from 1991-95 that featured an undefeated mark of 25-0 in conference play. The Black Knights carved out a 70-12 (.854) record against Patriot League competition during Emmer’s administration.

Nine of his squads at West Point reached double figures in victories, including the 1993 club that won a school-record 12 games and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. He is one of only two coaches to reach 300 career wins and the only mentor to coach in 500 career games at the Division I level.

In the summer of 2002, Emmer led Team USA to the gold medal as its head coach at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships in Perth, Australia. With a team comprised solely of college players, the Americans went undefeated, 6-0, which included two wins over heavily -avored Canada.

“Jack Emmer’s contributions to the game of lacrosse, particularly the past 22 years at West Point, have truly been outstanding,” said Army director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “His tireless dedication to Army Lacrosse and the U.S. Military Academy has been unmatched and will be sorely missed. The West Point community thanks Coach Emmer for his commitment to the academy and its mission to develop leaders of character, and we wish him and his family well in their future endeavors.”

Emmer is a three-time NCAA “Coach of the Year” and two-time Patriot League “Coach of the Year.” He has coached seven Hall of Famers and 92 All-Americans over the past 36 years. Twenty-six Army players have copped 35 All-America certificates under his tutelage.

The Mineola, N.Y., native succeeded National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Dick Edell in 1984 and guided the Black Knights to the semifinals that spring. Emmer engineered 15 winning seasons and placed Army lacrosse in the final rankings 15 times. He has coached five Patriot League “Offensive Players of the Year” and three “Defensive Players of the Year.” In addition, eight Black Knights have garnered “Rookie of the Year” honors as well. In fact, an Army player has captured at least one of the league’s three major postseason awards in eight of the past nine campaigns.

Emmer began his coaching career at SUNY Cortland in 1970, building the Red Dragons into a national power in three short seasons. His Cortland State teams won 32 of 38 contests, securing two Division I playoff berths.

A national search for Emmer’s successor has begun.