When Duke coach John Danowski stands in front of a room, he owns it. Put him in any setting, and he’s got the words to relate to the audience in an authentic fashion. But if you want to put him at a loss for words, ask him to talk about himself.
That’s the situation Danowski finds himself in now as he gets ready to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in January. It’s provided him the opportunity to reflect on his career, but despite accomplishments that are some of the best in the sport’s history, he doesn’t feel it’s about him.
“I stand on the shoulders of all the men and women that I had the great fortune to collaborate with,” Danowski said. “Trainers, equipment mangers, parents who trusted us with their children, players, opposing coaches and opponents that challenge and bring out the best in you. The hall of fame is always weird to me, it’s a team sport and no one does this alone.”
Perhaps it’s fitting that Danowski’s playing career at Rutgers is highlighted by teamwork – he set school records for assists in a game (13) and season (54).
He began his college coaching career as an assistant coach at C.W. Post before becoming the school’s head coach. That led to a two-decade tenure at Hofstra before he took his current position at Duke following the 2006 season.
It’s been nothing but success wherever he’s been. The winningest NCAA men’s lacrosse coach at the Division I level, he has 459 wins over his career at his three stops.
He’s coached over 100 All-Americans, taken 23 teams to the NCAA tournament, coached in six national championship games and led Duke to the NCAA title three times (2010, 2013 and 2014).
He’s also branched out to the international game and led the U.S. men’s program to gold medals in 2018 and 2023, becoming the first coach to win back-to-back world championships at the men’s senior level.
But the end result has always been just that, a result. It’s not the reason he’s a coach.
"He loves the relationships; the relationships with staff and the relationships with the kids and the team,” said his son, Matt, who played for him at both Duke and with the 2018 U.S. men’s team and now coaches alongside him at Duke. “He loves being in the locker room. He has a lot of fun with that. And he loves building teams. Creating a really special experience and unique experience each year is something that he really looks forward to doing. And helping kids to grow and to become the men that they are capable of being."
