HEMPSTEAD, New York * Seth Tierney, Associate Head Coach at Johns Hopkins University and formerly an assistant on the Pride staff, has been named the Hofstra University Head Men's Lacrosse Coach, it was announced Monday by Hofstra Director of Athletics Jack Hayes. Tierney, who becomes the fifth head coach in the Pride's 58-year history, replaces John Danowski who accepted the Duke University head coaching position in July.

"As a native Long Islander I am excited to be coming home to take my first head coaching job at Hofstra University," Tierney said. "As a former assistant here, I am quite familiar with the program and its possibilities. During the interview process, the Hofstra administration did an outstanding job of explaining how it is dedicating efforts to moving the lacrosse program to the next level and how they want to get there. It is a great opportunity for me and I look forward to the challenges ahead."

Tierney, 37, served as an assistant coach at Hofstra from 1995 through 2000 before leaving for a similar position at his alma mater Johns Hopkins University. During his six-year tenure with the Pride, Hofstra recorded six consecutive winning seasons with a combined overall record of 61-28 and a conference mark of 29-2, captured five league titles, received five top 15 final national rankings, and played in four NCAA Championship tournaments.

Tierney also coached seven All-Americans and nearly two dozen all-conference players while at Hofstra. Among them was midfielder Doug Shanahan, who would receive the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy as College Lacrosse Player of the Year, the Lt. Ray Enners Award as the Division I Player of the Year, and the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Award as the Division I Midfielder of the Year in 2001.

"During our search, we had the privilege of meeting many outstanding candidates including several former Pride assistants," Hofstra Director of Athletics Jack Hayes said. "Although all of them had exceptional and unique plans for Hofstra Lacrosse, Seth Tierney's presentation displayed the enthusiasm, intensity and passion that we were looking for. We are committed to assisting him to move the program into the elite level of college lacrosse."

Tierney returns to Hofstra after a six-year tenure at John Hopkins, the last two seasons as associate head coach. As the Blue Jays offensive coordinator, he was the architect of one of the most potent and explosive offenses in the nation in recent years. Tierney directed the Blue Jays attack that finished second in the nation in scoring margin, sixth in scoring offense and 16th in man-up offense during Hopkins' NCAA title run in 2005. The Blue Jays led the nation in scoring offense and man-up offense in 2003 and finished fifth in both categories in 2004.

This past season, Hopkins posted a 9-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, and ranked in the top 15 in the country in four statistical categories. With an emphasis on a balanced attack that puts pressure on the opposition at every position, individual awards have been plentiful at Hopkins. A total of 21 Blue Jay midfielders and attackmen earned All-America honors during Tierney's tenure in Homewood. Among them was Kyle Harrison, a two-time first team All-America, who received the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Lt. Enners Award in 2005 and the McLaughlin Award in 2004 and 2005.

"While we are disappointed to see coach Tierney go, we are extremely excited and supportive of him and his family," Blue Jays Head Lacrosse Coach Dave Pietramala stated. "Seth has been an important part of our success over the last six years and I am confident he will do an outstanding job at Hofstra University. Hofstra has selected an outstanding coach and an even better person."

Tierney played for the Blue Jays from 1988-91 and served as team captain as a senior. He helped lead Hopkins to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including an appearance in the 1989 NCAA title game. He received Hopkins' Turnbull-Reynolds Award as a senior as the player most exemplifying leadership and sportsmanship. Tierney was also selected to play in the North-South game as a senior.

Tierney continued his playing career after graduating from Johns Hopkins as he played three seasons of indoor lacrosse for the New York Saints before serving as an assistant coach for the Saints for two seasons.

Tierney and his wife, Maureen, have two children; a son, Ryan (8), and a daughter, Erin (6).

(Media Note: Coach Tierney will greet alumni and supporters at a reception in the Hofstra Arena Pride Lounge on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Jeremy Kniffin at 516-463-6759 for interview arrangements before or after the reception)

What They Are Saying About Hofstra Men's Lacrosse Coach Seth Tierney

Bill Tierney, Head Lacrosse Coach, Princeton University
"It's hard to believe that I gave him his first lacrosse stick when he was two, and had to tear that first baseman's glove out of his hand at twelve, but Seth finally saw the light. Everything he did in lacrosse came effortlessly, from picking up the sport late and becoming a great high school player, to being recruited by and becoming a captain at Johns Hopkins, to becoming one of the all-time great assistant coaches at Hofstra and Hopkins. No matter where Seth has gone, or what challenge he faced, he did so with great effort, much personality, and he always succeeded. There is no doubt in my mind that Hofstra University hired the best man for this job and will continue to flourish at the highest levels of lacrosse, under Seth's leadership. He is humble, smart, and dedicated and he will leave no stone unturned in his quest to make Hofstra Lacrosse a consistent, national power."

Dave Pietramala, Head Lacrosse Coach, Johns Hopkins University:
"We are disappointed to be losing Seth as a member of our staff, but we are excited for him as he moves on to become the head coach at Hofstra University. He has been a big part of the success we have enjoyed here over the last six years and Hofstra has made an excellent selection. We wish him and his family the best as they move forward."

Blake Miller, United States World Team Member and Former Hofstra Lacrosse Player (1995-96): "I am excited by the selection of Seth Tierney as the new men's lacrosse coach at Hofstra University. Seth served as an assistant coach for the Pride during my two years at Hofstra in 1995 and 1996. Even as a young coach back then, it was easy to see that he was on the way to becoming an outstanding coach. His enthusiasm and his desire to make everyone around him a better player was quite apparent. There is no doubt in my mind that his instruction made me a better player."

Kyle Harrison, 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy Winner and Two-time first team All-American at Johns Hopkins:
"I could talk forever about how I feel about Coach Tierney. He meant everything to me as a coach. He helped make me the player that I was and got the most out of me, not only as a player but as a person. On a personal level, he means a lot to me because he is such a great role model in everything he does in life. I have seen the way that he is with his family, and I admire him very much. He is a very special person. I am honored to call Coach Tierney one of my friends."