CLINTON, S.C.
- The Presbyterian College athletics department is pleased to announce that
Mike Gongas has been promoted to head men's lacrosse coach.
"I am very pleased to have Mike Gongas as the new head coach," interim athletic
director Mike Smith said. "He has shown the drive and determination that we want
and we feel that he will continue building the lacrosse program.
"We are committed to building off the strong foundation that is already in
place. Coach Gongas has done a wonderful job since he took over as the interim,
leading the team to its biggest win in Division I, an 8-6 victory over BIG EAST
foe Providence. We look forward to seeing what he can do in the future as he has
already put together a dynamic team."
Gongas, a 2007 graduate of Adelphi University, was promoted to the interim
capacity on Sept. 2, 2009 after the departure of former head coach Jason Childs. Shortly thereafter, Gongas' title switched to acting head men's
lacrosse coach. During the 2010 campaign, his title remained the same.
In just his second game as the acting head men's lacrosse coach, he guided the
Blue Hose to an 8-6 victory over BIG EAST foe Providence in arguably the
biggest Division I victory in school history for PC.
In 2010, the Blue Hose have taken on the toughest schedule in program history,
having played two teams in the top-20. The squad has also played only four home
matches. With one of the youngest teams in the nation, Gongas has developed his
squad into one of the most competitive in Division I.
He also helped guide newcomer Tyler Melnyk to an extremely productive season,
where he would be in the top 50 of multiple NCAA statistical categories if PC
was through the transition to Division I.
A native of Port Jefferson Station, NY, Gongas graduated from Comsewogue H.S.
where he was a two-time all-league and all-county honoree, a member of the
Empire State team and was named All-American, and all-Long Island his senior
year.
In the fall
of 2007, Gongas signed a contract with the New York Titans, a professional
indoor lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League as well as being drafted
and participating in training camp with the Long Island Lizards of Major League
Lacrosse, the professional outdoor lacrosse league.
"It's has been an honor to
not only be involved with the growth of this lacrosse program over the past
three seasons, but also to be involved in making the transition from Division
II to Division I as an athletic department," Gongas said. "I would like to
thank Dr. Griffith, Mike Smith, and the rest of the administrative staff for
the opportunity to continue coaching here at Presbyterian College and I look
forward to the continued growing success of both the athletic department and
the lacrosse program.
Coach Marc Handel, Coach Dave Hahn, Coach Sean Mulford and I look forward to
working with the core group of guys we are bringing back from last season's
team, along with a fantastic group of newcomers this fall, and can't wait to
take the field in the spring."
Gongas will be assisted again by Handel, who is in the third year with the
program. Handel was a high school teammate of Gongas where the duo helped the
squad win a state title in 2002 and served as team captains a year later. Hahn
will be back for his second season with the program while Mulford, who recently
completed a standout career with the Blue Hose, will join the staff as a
student assistant for the 2011 campaign.
