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Entering his fifth season, John Greco has accomplished plenty as the head coach of the Montclair State men’s lacrosse team. In his four seasons, he has won 45 of 68 games, a .661 winning percentage, which is the best of any coach in program history to date.
In addition, his teams have been to the postseason all four seasons each time capping it off with a berth in the ECAC Division III Metro Championship Game. In conference play his teams have been as successful winning 20 of 28 with four losses coming at the hands of perennial conference and regional power Stevens. Twice in his four years Greco has been named the Knickerbocker Conference (now Skyline Conference) Coach of the Year.
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In 2003, Greco took over the program becoming the sixth coach in school history. In his first season all Greco did was lead the Red Hawks to a 12-4 mark, the most victories MSU had posted since 1994. The Red Hawks won the first of their three straight ECAC Division III Metro championships, topping Kings Point in overtime, 10-9. He was voted the Coach of the Year in the Knickerbocker Conference.
The following year Greco led Montclair State to perhaps the second-best season in the history of the program. Montclair won 14 games, one shy of the school record, losing only three. The Red Hawks reached the championship game of the inaugural Knickerbocker Tournament. MSU would qualifiy for the ECAC Metro Tournament for the second straight year, something it had not done in over a decade. Tabbed
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GRECO
YEAR-BY-YEAR
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| Year |
Rec |
KLC |
| 2003 |
12-4$ |
5-2 |
| 2004 |
14-3$ |
5-2# |
| 2005 |
10-7$ |
5-1# |
| 2006 |
9-9 |
5-3 |
| 2007 |
11-7 |
7-2 |
| TOTALS |
56-30 |
27-10 |
# - KLC Championship Game
$ -ECAC Metro Championship
(Note: MSU joined the Skyline Conference in 2007) |
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MSU
MEN'S
LACROSSE COACHES
|
| John
Greco |
56-30 (.651)
|
2003-Pres.
|
| Doug
Alsofrom |
127-80
(.613)
|
1988-2002
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| Tim
Sullivan |
21-34
(.382)
|
1984-87
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| Spencer
Willard |
54-41
(.568)
|
1977-83
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| Glen
Brown |
17-12
(.586)
|
1974-76
|
| Al
Jackson |
4-4
(.500)
|
1973
|
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as the No. 1 seed, Montclair dominated the tourament outscoring its opponents, 26-8, capping off the season with a 13-3 win over conference rival Richard Stockton in the title game.
The 2005 campaigh provided some adversity for Greco and his Red Hawks. Playing against a very difficult schedule, MSU stood just 5-6 late in the season. With Greco leading the way, Montclair would reel off five straight victories and advanced to the KLC Championship Game
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again. Montclair also returned to the ECAC Championship successfully defending their crown with a 13-8 victory over Farmingdale State.
Last season, the Red Hawks nearly pulled off a four-peat in the ECAC Championship. The No. 3 seed in the tournament, Montclair avenged an earlier loss in the season to Richard Stockton topping the Ospreys 12-11 in the semifinals. Making their fourth consecutive appearance in the championship game, MSU fell to Villa Julie.
Greco’s association with Montclair State lacrosse dates back to his playing days when he was a solid defender. In his senior year, a foot injury limited Greco to just five games; nonetheless, he was awarded the Stick ‘Em Award in 2000, which is presented to the team member whose devotion to the game, interest in his teammates, desire to win, and positive attitude, on and off the field, contributed the most to the success of the team.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Greco did not stray to far from the Montclair State campus, serving as an assistant coach and main recruiter for two seasons and also served as co-head coach of the MSU women’s squad in 2002.
A native of nearby Clifton, NJ, Greco is currently a 6th Grade Math and Science teacher at Christopher Columbus Middle School in his hometown. |
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