WORCESTER, Mass. — The College of the Holy Cross has named J.L. Reppert its head men's lacrosse coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Marcus Blossom. Reppert joins the Crusaders after spending the last six years as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Maryland. 

"J.L. Reppert has been one of the top assistant lacrosse coaches in the country," said Blossom. "He's also a high-character individual with a tremendous passion for the game of lacrosse and, most importantly, the personal development of student-athletes. I'm excited to welcome J.L., Jill and Liam to the Holy Cross family."

Over the last six seasons, Reppert helped lead the Terrapins to four NCAA Final Fours, four Big Ten regular season titles, two Big Ten Tournament championships and three appearances in the NCAA championship game, including the 2017 national championship. He turned Maryland's offense into one of the top units in the nation, ranking in the top 20 in the country in scoring offense in each of the last four years.

"I would like to thank Director of Athletics Marcus Blossom for having trust and confidence in my abilities and for providing me with this great opportunity," said Reppert. "I also want to express my appreciation to Coach Tillman, the Terps' lacrosse family and the entire Maryland athletics department. My time there provided so many great experiences, relationships and learning opportunities. 

"I am excited to lead the Crusader program through these challenging times as we use our approach to excellence to compete for Patriot League championships and national attention. I look forward to getting to know the players and their families as we incorporate students, staff, alumni and the Worcester community into our Crusader lacrosse journey. Together, we will build a program that battles between the lines and lives each day as men for others off the field."
 

During his time at Maryland, Reppert developed 16 All-Americans and nine Major League Lacrosse draft selections, while coaching Maryland's first-ever Tewaaraton Award winner in Matt Rambo (2017). Reppert also helped guide the careers of two other Tewaaraton finalists in Connor Kelly (2018) and Jared Bernhardt (2019).

In 2020, Reppert's offense ranked fourth in the nation in assists per game (10.0), ninth in points per game (25.7) and 10th in scoring (15.7), while three of his players, Bernhardt, Logan Wisnauskas and Anthony DeMaio, earned All-America honors. The Terrapins posted a 5-1 overall record and were ranked No. 4 in the nation before the season ended prematurely due to COVID-19.

During the 2019 campaign, Bernhardt and Wisnauskas became the first Terrapin duo to both score over 70 points in the same season under Reppert's tutelage. The Terrapins also had one of the nation's most efficient offenses, ranking third in shooting percentage (35.1%). Maryland finished the season with an overall mark of 12-5 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

In 2018, Reppert's offense scored 210 total goals, the ninth-most in school history, led by Kelly with 82 total points. The Terrapins went 14-4 overall, won the Big Ten regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. 

Reppert helped Maryland win the 2017 national championship with an overall record of 16-3, in addition to claiming the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. The Terrapins' offense ranked 10th in the nation with an average of 12.5 goals per game, with Rambo winning the Tewaaraton Award.

During the 2016 season, Reppert's offense featured three 50-point scorers and was particularly potent in the postseason when it averaged 14 goals per game. Maryland went 17-3 overall, won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships and finished the year as the NCAA runner-up.

In Reppert's first season with the Terrapins in 2015, the offense ranked second in the nation with just 10.7 turnovers per game. Maryland posted an overall mark of 15-4 and captured the Big Ten regular season title, in addition to advancing to the NCAA championship game.

Prior to his time at Maryland, Reppert served as an assistant coach at Navy for three seasons from 2012-2014. Reppert helped improve Navy's shooting percentage immensely, jumping from 28th in the nation (.280) to 13th (.311) over the course of his first season in Annapolis.

Under Reppert's tutelage, Midshipmen Tucker Hull and Sam Jones became only the fourth set of classmates in Navy history to reach 100 points. Jones finished his career with 144 points, while Hull ended his career with 135. The 279 points combined are the most ever for a pair of graduating classmates at Navy.

Before returning to Navy, where he was a four-year starter at attack for the lacrosse team from 1996-1999, Reppert was the senior assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Washington College in 2011. He was also an assistant coach at Harvard during the 2009 season, when the Crimson won eight games for their most victories since 2002, including a 9-6 win at No. 5 Duke to open the season. The Crimson earned five All-Ivy League selections and garnered seven nods to the NEILA All-New England team.

During his senior year at Navy, Reppert helped lead the Midshipmen to a berth in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. He was voted team captain by his peers as a senior and was also the recipient of the Vice Adm. E.C. Waller Award, which is presented to a Navy lacrosse player for spirit, morale and dedication to the program.

Reppert graduated from the Naval Academy with honors in 1999, earning a bachelor's degree in political science, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He went on to graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in 2004 as a Conrad Scholar, earning his master's degree in finance.

From 2000-2003, Reppert was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as a finance officer. He was promoted to captain in 2004 and began working in the programs and resources department as a congressional liaison. After serving nine years in the Marine Corps and achieving the rank of captain, Reppert left the corps to begin his coaching career.

Along the way, Reppert held high school assistant coaching jobs at St. Albans (D.C.), Episcopal (Va.), Gonzaga (D.C.), Robert Louis Stevenson (Calif.) and Poway (Calif.). He has also served as the manager of Champions Field House in Rockville, Md., and as founder and partner in the Breakout Lacrosse Company, based in Washington, D.C.

Reppert comes from a lacrosse family, with his father, Joseph, being a well-respected high school and college official for 35 years. In addition, his brother, Brad, played at Towson, while his sister, Sarah, played at Auburn.

Reppert and his wife, Jill, have one son (Liam).