Six coaching legends will be inducted into the IMLCA Hall of Fame in December, the college men’s lacrosse coaches association announced Tuesday.
The Class of 2019 — Don Leet (St. Lawrence), Tom Postel (C.W. Post), William Schmeisser (Johns Hopkins), Cliff Stevenson (Oberlin, Brown), Dick Watts (Kenyon, UMBC) and Chuck Winters (Cortland) — will be inducted in ceremony Dec. 6 at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott.
“The Class of 2019 is responsible for many inaugural championships at their respective institutions and were instrumental in mentoring countless young men,” IMLCA president J.B. Clarke said in a press release. “The IMLCA is eternally grateful for their contributions to our great sport.”
Leet tacked up 251 wins in his illustrious career, leading the Saints to the 1979 NCAA Division III semifinals and earning national coach of the year honors.
Postel played and coached at C.W. Post, setting numerous school records in the former capacity and then leading the Pioneers to the 1996 NCAA Division II championship in the latter. A National Lacrosse Hall of Famer, Postel also played and coached for Team USA.
Schmiesser, for whom the USILA’s Division I National Defenseman of the Year award is named, was a player-coach at Johns Hopkins. He led the Blue Jays to a 57-15-1 record beginning in 1900 and later established the famed Mount Washington Lacrosse Club.
Stevenson played at Springfield and coached at Oberlin, but he achieved his fame as the 20-year coach at Brown, where he compiled a 168-81 record and won two Ivy League titles.
Watts started the program at UMBC, going 178-148 in 23 seasons and leading the Retrievers to the 1980 NCAA Division II championship. He was an All-American defenseman at Johns Hopkins and also spent three seasons at Kenyon.
Winters coached at Cortland from 1973-1983, capturing two national championships (1973 and 1975) at a time when the NCAA staged a combined tournament for Division II and Division III. He starred as a player at Bowling Green.