Montclair State men’s lacrosse coach Mike Schambach died Thursday after a nearly yearlong bout with cancer. He was 38.
Schambach, who led the Red Hawks to a 46-27 record and three NCAA Division III tournament appearances in four seasons at the helm, was diagnosed with colon cancer last July. He is survived by his wife, Lindsay, his son, Cameron, and a one-month-old daughter, Chloe, who was born May 7.
“Deciding to have Chloe was the best decision we’ve made together,” Lindsay Schambach wrote in a Facebook tribute to her husband Thursday. “Just a month ago, having you by my side, fighting for me, as we brought her into the world was such an example of your strength and commitment.”
Schambach came to Montclair State after three seasons as the coach at DeSales and seven years as an assistant at FDU-Florham. He played for four seasons and was a two-year starter at Rutgers and was a key player on the 2003 Scarlet Knights team that earned a No. 7 national ranking and qualified for the NCAA Division I tournament.
Under Schambach, Montclair State went undefeated in the Skyline Conference for three straight seasons (2015-2017), earning the conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament in each year. The Red Hawks competed as an independent this season as it transitions to the Colonial States Athletic Conference in 2019. On Thursday, the IMLCA honored Montclair State with its National Coaching Staff of the Year award for Division III.
“I will always be in awe and constantly inspired by your devotion to the sport, to your players and helping everyone grow together as a team,” Lindsay Scambach wrote. “You have always seen the best in everyone and that’s why everyone sees the best in you.”
That much was evident in similar tributes that trickled in from the lacrosse community late Thursday night.
.@msuredhawks & .@MontclairStLax mourns the loss of head coach men's lacrosse coach Mike Schambach @USILA_Lax .@montclairstateu @SkylineConfD3 @NCAADIII @NCAA @LaxPower @USLacrosse @USLacrosseMag @Inside_Lacrosse @BRpantherLAX @cpsj @RUmlax @DSUBulldogs @FDUDevils #redhawk4life pic.twitter.com/Ai8796g4BR
— Montclair Athletics (@msuredhawks) June 15, 2018
Today we lost a great father, mentor, and coach. Coach Schambach was someone who I looked up to in the coaching world. He lived each day with love and laughter, and always a big smile on his face. That legacy will live on forever by the people who knew him #SchambachStrong
— Scott Bieda (@CoachScottBieda) June 14, 2018
Lacrosse world lost great one today @SchambachM great coach better person. You will be missed
— Thomas Mariano (@TomMariano81) June 14, 2018
I dont deserve any of the credit, everything was through the incredible person that was Mike Schambach. He was an absolute warrior through the season and taught me what it means to live! Please consider donating to help his family at https://t.co/NLoWZNQRC9 #SchambachStrong https://t.co/PAKHE0wuB2
— Shane Carmody (@coach_carmody) June 15, 2018
It is great sadness to hear of the passing of Mike Schambach, Head Coach of Montclair State. We at Farmingdale State Lacrosse send our condolences to his wife Lindsay, his 2 children and the entire Montclair Lacrosse Program. https://t.co/0OcUblmIJX pic.twitter.com/4AAeFuSr45
— Farmingdale St. Lax (@FarmStateLax) June 15, 2018
Funeral arrangements for Schambach had not yet been announced as of Friday morning. A GoFundMe page established Thursday in Schambach’s memory had already raised more than $67,000, with proceeds supporting his family through The Michael Bruce Fund.