Joseph Corcoran

Joe Corcoran began his lacrosse career at Geneva High as a four-year varsity midfielder from 1937-1941. As team captain in 1941, he led Geneva to the Central New York League Championship. While serving in WWII from 1942-45, Corcoran won the light heavyweight boxing championship. From 1946-50 at Ithaca College, he initiated the lacrosse program, was the head coach as well as a four-year varsity player. During that time, he also played box lacrosse for the North American League, was the football team captain and achieved Little All-American and All-Upstate NY football honors.

In 1956, Corcoran returned to Geneva High to restart lacrosse and become head coach of the program. In 1967, he initiated lacrosse at Corning East High and as the head coach, won league championships in 1968-69, regional championships from 1971-73, and sectional championships in 1975, '77, '79, '80, and '81. His overall record at Corning East was 206-36. His coaching honors include seven "Coach of the Year" Awards, seven honor awards, and the twin tiers "Team of the Decade" Award (Corning East) from 1970-80. In 1981, he received the Hero's Howard E. Johnson Award for the "man who has done the most for lacrosse" and in 1983, Corcoran joined the USLCA's "Two Hundred Club" for head coaches who have won 200 or more games.

Corcoran was elected to the Ithaca College Hall of Fame in 1978, the US Lacrosse Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Geneva Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Joe Corcoran passed away in 1997.