Dave Pietramala to Join Joe Breschi's Staff at North Carolina

Dave Pietramala is headed to Chapel Hill to become North Carolina’s defensive coordinator, Chris Jastrzembski reported over the weekend.

Inside Lacrosse confirmed the news. Joey Spallina, a Syracuse player under Pietramala in 2023, thanked his now-former coach for his mentorship in a post on Twitter.

UNC has yet to make an official announcement of his hire.

Pietramala goes to Chapel Hill just as his twin sons, Nick and Dominic, enter their second seasons of college lacrosse. Nick Pietramala, a defenseman, appeared in two games last season. Dominic, an attackman, missed the season due to injury.

North Carolina head coach Joe Breschi received a three-year contract extension on May 19 and subsequently made significant changes to his coaching staff after going 7-7 and missing the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in the last seven full seasons.

Long-time offensive coordinator Dave Metzbower parted ways with the team in June, and he was replaced by Air Force assistant Jon Thompson. Kevin Unterstein, UNC’s defensive coordinator last season, will remain on staff, according to Jastrzembski.

Dave Pietramala made his return to college coaching in 2022 with Gary Gait at Syracuse. Pietramala and Johns Hopkins parted ways in April of 2020, ending one of the most historic coaching tenures in NCAA lacrosse history. He became Hopkins’ head coach in 2001 and revitalized the program, winning two national championships in his time there.

According to Jastrzembski and Brent Axe of Syracuse.com, the list of options to replace Pietramala could include Ron Caputo (Duke assistant), Travis Crane (Ohio State associate head coach), John Galloway (Jacksonville head coach), Ryan Wellner (Notre Dame assistant) and others.