Two of the greatest players of all time are reportedly joining forces at Syracuse.
Gary Gait, who recently took over the men’s program after leading the women’s team to three national championship appearance in the past 14 years, has tabbed Dave Pietramala as his defensive coordinator.
Inside Lacrosse first reported Pietramala’s verbal agreement to join Syracuse’s staff earlier this afternoon. USA Lacrosse Magazine confirmed the news.
“We’re getting close,” Gait, who succeeded the legendary John Desko, said about the rest of the Orange’s staff last week at his introductory press conference.
Gait’s comments at the press conference also hinted that Syracuse’s offensive coordinator Pat March, who will enter his third year with the Orange in 2022, will remain on staff.
The move on the defensive end unites arguably the best defenseman in the history of the sport with the greatest offensive talent. The two dueled in the 1989 NCAA championship game, a contest in which the Orange prevailed 13-12.
Pietramala parted ways with Johns Hopkins, his alma mater, last spring after his 20th season at the helm was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Blue Jays went 2-4 in 2020.
“It's sad,” former Blue Jays midfielder Joel Tinney said in the wake of the move last April. “We wish he was still there, but if anyone knows how to get back on their feet and tough through things, it is Coach Petro. That’s something that he always taught us. Whether it was a tough loss or something that is going on in our personal lives, he always told us to put one foot in front of the other and keep plugging along.”
Under Pietramala, the only man in Division I lacrosse history to win a championship as a player and a coach, Johns Hopkins missed the NCAA tournament just once. He compiled a record of 207-93 with 18 NCAA tournament appearances, seven trips to the final four, four appearances in the championship game and two titles in 2005 and 2007.
Pietramala spent the past year as a Lacrosse Advisor for Legendary Sports Group. This spring, he also helped coach the defense for the varsity lacrosse team at Boys’ Latin (Md.), which last month won its first MIAA championship since 2014.
Pietramala’s twin sons, Dom and Nick, verbally committed to North Carolina last fall and just completed their junior years at Boys’ Latin. Syracuse was previously one of the four finalists for Dom Pietramala, the No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class, according to Inside Lacrosse.