EASTON, Pa. – Patrick Myers, who spent the last four seasons as the associate head coach at Penn, has been named the next head coach of Lafayette men’s lacrosse.
“I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity. I’d like to sincerely thank Sherryta Freeman, along with Kaity McKittrick and the entire search committee, for allowing me the privilege to lead this program,” Myers said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without the support of my family, friends, former coaches and colleagues. I’m beyond grateful and wish to thank them for helping prepare me for this moment.”
“Lafayette men’s lacrosse will be a program built on hard work, toughness and brotherhood,” Myers continued. “We will focus on improving daily and creating an environment in which we chase the best versions of ourselves with relentless effort. Lafayette lacrosse has an extremely bright future and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
During his time in Philadelphia, Myers served as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. He helped oversee a Quaker program with six All-Ivy league selections (two each in 2015, 2016 and 2017) and an Ivy League Rookie of the Year (Simon Mathias in 2016) laurel during his time. In 2018, Penn beat No. 1-ranked Duke for the first time in school history and made its third straight appearance in the Ivy League Tournament. In 2016, Myers worked as an assistant coach with the United States Under-19 team for the 2016 FIL U-19 World Cup in Canada.
“I am thrilled to welcome Patrick to the Lafayette Athletics family,” said Lafayette Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman. “His coaching experience and readiness to lead make him the right fit for our men’s lacrosse program. Pat will foster a competitive, disciplined, family-oriented culture while promoting the academic and athletic balance needed for our student-athletes to be successful.”
“I’d like to thank Kaity McKittrick for a skillful job leading a process that brought several extremely qualified and talented individuals to the search committee and then to campus,” Freeman added. “Her work as chair of the committee was outstanding and commendable.”
“Patrick emerged from our talented pool of candidates very early as a competitor and a coach ready to lead our program to success in the Patriot League,” said McKittrick, who chaired the search committee. “His career stops at Ivy League and Patriot League institutions allowed him to develop an understanding of our scholar-athlete model and development of the whole person. Patrick believes in creating an elite environment where student-athletes are challenged to excel in all areas of their lives while at Lafayette and beyond. We are excited for Pat and his family to join the Leopard coaching ranks and are confident in his ability to propel our program to greater success.”
Prior to joining the Penn staff, Myers served as an assistant at North Carolina from 2009-14. While there, the Tar Heels posted a 69-30 overall record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament each season, including quarterfinal appearances in 2010 and 2013. North Carolina claimed the ACC title in 2013, the program’s first championship in 17 years, earning Myers a promotion to the Associate Head Coach role for the 2014 season. UNC held the No. 1 ranking in three different polls at the end of the 2013 campaign, the school’s first top billing in two decades.
As North Carolina’s offensive coordinator, Myers coached two Atlantic Coast Conference Players of the Year (Billy Bitter in 2010, Marcus Holman in 2013) and two ACC Rookies of the Year (Holman in 2010, Nick Galasso in 2011). During his time in Chapel Hill, Myers saw four offensive players earn All-America honors (Jimmy Bitter, Ryan Creighton, Joey Sankey, Chad Tutton) on three separate occasions. UNC was fourth in the nation in scoring in 2013 (13.5 gpg) and 2014 (13.0 gpg).
As UNC’s recruiting coordinator, Myers oversaw the signing of two classes that were ranked No. 1 by Inside Lacrosse (2010 and 2012) and a third class in 2011 that was ranked No. 2. His 2010 and 2012 recruiting classes included eight Under Armour All-Americans each.
Before arriving at North Carolina, Myers earned Patriot League experience while serving as a coach assistant at Bucknell University from 2006-08. The Bison went 10-5 and were ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation during the 2008 season following a 2007 campaign during which the Bison were 11-4 and peaked at No. 11. In Myers’ first year in Lewisburg, the Bison knocked off No. 1 Maryland to become the first Bucknell team in any sport to defeat a top-ranked team.
His first full-time assistant coaching gig came at Cornell in 2005. That season the Big Red won the Ivy League title with an 11-3 record, advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal round and were ranked as high as No. 3.
Myers’ coaching career started in 2004 as a volunteer assistant coach at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were 12-4, captured the Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) title and held a No. 6 national ranking on their way to the NCAA Champion first-round appearance. From 2002-03, Myers’ brother, Nick, was a volunteer assistant coach at Ohio State where he has been the head coach since 2008.
Myers graduated from Ohio State in 2003. He was the GWLL Rookie of the Year in 2000, a two-time All-GWLL selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Following graduation, he played professionally for four seasons with the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.
A native of Kennebunk, Maine, Myers and his wife, Lauren, have two daughters, Ava (6) and Mackenzie (3).