John Odierna Steps Down from Manhattan; Hired at Syracuse Per Report

John Odierna has stepped down from his position as Manhattan head coach, the university announced Sunday.

It’s not yet been confirmed, but reports say that he will accept the open position as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator, replacing Dave Pietramala after he took the same position at North Carolina. Inside Lacrosse’s Ty Xanders reported that would be the case.

Breaking: @CuseMLAX is set to hire @ManhattanMLAX head coach John Odierna as the Orange's next defensive coordinator, sources tell @Inside_Lacrosse. In his first season as Jaspers' HC and eighth on staff, Odierna led the No. 1 scoring defense in the country in 2023.

— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) July 28, 2023

Odierna was the 2023 MAAC Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach of the Jaspers. Odierna’s past seven seasons were spent as the Jaspers’ defensive coordinator, and his defensive chops shined through as the head coach. Manhattan had the No. 1 scoring defense in the country in 2023.

Doug Sage has been named Manhattan’s interim head coach for 2024. Sage just finished his second season on Manhattan’s staff.

At Syracuse, Odierna will inherit a defense that improved in 2023. Syracuse ranked 44th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 12.13 goals per game, an improvement over the 14.71 goals it allowed in 2022 when Syracuse scuffled to a 4-10 record.

Odierna’s Syracuse defense returns goalie Will Mark and some intriguing young players around him. The Orange have brought in a pair of LSM through the transfer portal — Matt Wright (North Carolina) and Steven Schmitt (Mount St. Mary’s) — and a Division III defenseman in Zack Puckhaber (Gettysburg).