2009 USILA Coaches of the Year Announced

Division I Coach of the Year: Jeff Tambroni, Cornell University

June 16, 2009 - The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announces that the 2009 Division I Coach of the Year is Jeff Tambroni, Cornell University. In his ninth season as the Head Coach at Cornell, Tambroni took the Big Red to the heights of the lacrosse world, as the team advanced to the national championship game this year for the first time since 1988. Although Cornell dropped a heartbreaking 10-9 decision in overtime to Syracuse, the Big Red made its presence felt in the lacrosse community with its second final four appearance in three years. Cornell finished the year with a 13-4 record overall and a mark of 5-1 in the conference, earning a share of the seventh straight Ivy League title which is the longest stretch since Cornell won 10-straight championships between 1974 and 1983. The Big Red was also a perfect 6-0 at home, upping the team's record on Schoellkopf Field to 51-10 (.836) during Tambroni's tenure

Tambroni started his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at Hobart College where he was a three time All-America. He moved on to Loyola in 1997, where he served as the Greyhounds' offensive coordinator. In September of 1997 Tambroni came back to Central New York as an assistant with the Big Red. Tambroni became the second Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse at Cornell University in June 2000.

Over the past six seasons, Tambroni has led Cornell to the heights of Division I, boasting the highest winning percentage of all Division I teams during that span (.787) and ranking fourth in number of victories (70). Likewise, the Big Red has not fallen out of the top ten in either national poll in over four years.

Division II Coach of the Year: John Jez, C. W. Post College

June 16, 2009 - The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announces that the 2009 Division II Coach of the Year is John Jez, C.W. Post College. In his third season as the Head Lacrosse Coach at C. W. Post, Jez guided the Pioneers to a 15-1 record and won the Division II NCAA National Championship. Last season the Pioneers posted an 11-3 record and finished fourth in the final USILA Coaches Poll. In his first season at C.W.Post in 2007, Jez took the Pioneers to a perfect record through their first six games and finished the season with a 9-4 record.

Jez served as the head coach at Pace University from 2003-2004, after serving as the assistant coach for six years prior to his promotion. He also spent one year as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University. Jez then served as the assistant coach at C. W. Post for two years before taking over the head coaching responsibilities.

Jez currently serves as an assistant on the support staff of the U.S. Men's National Team and will serve as an assistant general manager in 2010. A former two-time All-America performer at Pfeiffer, Jez is also a member of the USILA Division II All-America Committee, the USILA Division II Poll Committee, and the NCAA Championship Lacrosse Committee.

June 16, 2009 - The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announces that the 2009 Division III Coach of the Year is Steve Beville, Cortland State. In his third season as the Head Coach at Cortland, Beville guided the Red Dragons to a 19-2 record and won the 2009 Division III NCAA National Championship. Last year his squad finished 18-2, won the SUNYAC crown and was the runner up in the NCAA tournament. In his first season at Cortland in 2007, Beville took the Red Dragons to a 15-6 record, another SUNYAC regular-season crown and was runner up in the NCAA tournament.

Beville started his coaching career in 1986 as an assistant coach at Washington College. Then he spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Colorado College and eight seasons at the University of Vermont. During his tenure at Vermont, Beville served on the Division I All-America selection committee and the NCAA playoff advisory committee as well as the USILA Division I Poll Committee. He was a member of the US National Team selection committee in 1998 and 2002. He coached in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game in both 1997 and 2004, served six years on the Division III All-America selection committee and was a member of the Division III national championship advisory committee in 1997 and 1998.

A native of Syracuse, Beville graduated from West Genesee High School and enjoyed a highly successful playing career at Washington College. He was a two-time Division III National Defenseman of the Year and played in three Division III national championship games.