Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Clemson announced Thursday that it’s adding women’s lacrosse to its powerhouse athletics program. The Tigers will debut in 2022-23, giving the ACC 10 teams. (Pittsburgh comes on board next year.) Athletic director Dan Radakovich said on “Packer and Durham” that the school spent the last six weeks studying the viability of various women’s sports, deciding on lacrosse and gymnastics. The women’s lacrosse team will play its games at Riggs Field, known as one of the best college soccer venues in the country.
2. Dave Pietramala was introduced as the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team’s defensive coordinator — likely the first time there’s ever been a press conference (virtually or otherwise) for an assistant coach. That’s because Petro’s pedigree makes for an unusual second fiddle. But the former two-time NCAA championship-winning head coach at Johns Hopkins — where he also starred as arguably the best defenseman in the history of the sport — said coaching again at a place that puts a premium on college lacrosse was what he always wanted.
3. High Point men’s lacrosse coach Jon Torpey authored a short but poignant article, a message to parents of youth athletes. “If you celebrate your child’s personal growth, keep the expectations reasonable and don’t base their entire worth on their success,” Torpey wrote, “you’ll see very clearly the things that matter.”
4. Newly promoted UDC women’s lacrosse coach Zhane Ruffin is the latest subject of our content partnership with Blaxers Blog — a story by Brian Simpkins on the power of representation.