Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
Founded	1916
University	Syracuse University
Head coach	Gary Gait (since 2021 season)
Stadium	JMA Wireless Dome (capacity: 49,250)
Location	Syracuse, New York
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Nickname	Orange
Colors	Orange[1]
Pre-NCAA era championships
(4) - 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925,1956 split with John Hopkins
NCAA Tournament championships
(10*) - 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009 *NCAA Tournament Championships Vacated 1990
NCAA Tournament Runner-Up
(6) - 1984, 1985, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2013
NCAA Tournament Final Fours
(26*) - 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
(33*) - 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
(39*) - 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
(4) - 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Conference regular season championships
(5) - 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018

The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 15 national championship titles (one was later vacated) and currently compete as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference. Syracuse plays its home games at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York.

History

Syracuse played its first intercollegiate lacrosse game in 1916, and captured United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse League (USILL) co-championships in 1920, 1922, 1924, and 1925 based on winning the Northern Division.^[2]

The men's lacrosse team competed as independents until 2010 when the former Big East Conference began sponsoring men's lacrosse. It joined the Atlantic Coast Conference from the 2014 season onwards following the athletics program's switch to the ACC.

NCAA national championships

In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won 10 national championship titles, in 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009, with one championship in 1990 vacated due to NCAA rules infractions after an investigation revealed that Nancy Simmons, the wife of Coach Roy Simmons, Jr., had co-signed a car loan for the team's star player, Paul Gait, in the 1990 season.^[3]

The Orange's ten NCAA championship titles are the most since the NCAA began holding tournaments in 1971 NCAA Division I.^[4]

Big East lacrosse

Syracuse was one of seven Big East Conference schools that formally began competing in men's lacrosse in 2010. Previously, Syracuse men's lacrosse had remained independent (i.e., unaffiliated with any athletic conference). The other six Big East schools were Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, and Villanova.

Head coaches

Syracuse has had five men's lacrosse head coaches since 1916:^[5][6]

• Laurie D. Cox (1916–1930), 116-40-15 record, .722 winning percentage
• Roy Simmons, Sr. (1931–1970), 253-130-1 record, .660 winning percentage
• Roy Simmons, Jr. (1971–1998), 287-96-0 record, .749 winning percentage
• John Desko (1999–2021), 258-86-0 record, .750 winning percentage
• Gary Gait (2021–present), 21-19-0 record, .525 winning percentage

As of games through 03/29/24, these coaches have combined for a 933-371-16 record, which is a .707 winning percentage, while winning 15 total national titles.

Individual honors and awards

USILA All-Americans

Twelve Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players have been four-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-Americans:

Tewaaraton Trophy

Syracuse has also produced two Tewaaraton Trophy winners:

• Mike Powell (2002, 2004)
• Mike Leveille (2008)

US Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Twenty-three Orange men's lacrosse players and coaches are enshrined in the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame:

Only Johns Hopkins (63) and Maryland (31) have more inductees in the Hall of Fame.

Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

At least three former Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse player has been inducted in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame:

• Tom Marechek (2012)
• Gary Gait (2014)
• Paul Gait (2014)

National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame

Several former Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players have been inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame:

• Gary Gait (2006)
• Paul Gait (2006)
• Tom Marechek (2007)

Traditions

One notable tradition of the Syracuse program is the number 22 jersey, which is given to the player who is expected to be the team's best overall player.^[7] The number has been worn by Gary Gait, Charlie Lockwood, Casey Powell, Ryan Powell, Mike Powell, Dan Hardy, Cody Jamieson, Jojo Marasco, Jordan Evans, Chase Scanlan, and most currently Joey Spallina.^[8]

Season Results

The following is a list of Syracuse’s Men's Lacrosse results by season: