Bill Tierney

Last updated
Bill Tierney
Biographical details
Born (1952-09-26) September 26, 1952 (age 71)
Playing career
1970–1973 Cortland State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1982–1984 RIT
1985–1987 Johns Hopkins (assistant)
1988–2009 Princeton
2010–2023 Denver
2024–Current Philadelphia Waterdogs
Head coaching record
Overall439–152
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
As player:
  • 1973 USILA Small College National Championship

As coach:

William G. Tierney (born September 26, 1952) is an American lacrosse coach who is the Head Coach for the Philadelphia Waterdogs. Previously, he led the men's lacrosse team at the University of Denver. Tierney is the first college lacrosse coach to win an NCAA DI Championship west of the Eastern Time Zone. [1] He coached seven NCAA DI championship teams, including six at Princeton University and one at the University of Denver. Tierney's teams have had a combined winning percentage of .743.

Contents

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest lacrosse coaches of all time. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Tierney joined the Philadelphia Waterdogs on March 28th, 2024

Player

Tierney played collegiate lacrosse at Cortland State where he was also a member of Delta Kappa Beta fraternity. [8] In 1973, he played on the USILA national championship team. This was the small college, non Division I national tournament, prior to the splitting of Division I, II and III national tournaments. [9]

In 1972, Tierney was a member of a seminal Cortland NCAA Semifinal team that upset Navy. Following college, Tierney pursued a master's degree at Adelphi University, and coached high school lacrosse at Great Neck South High School, then Levittown Memorial High School. [10]

Coach

In 1982, Tierney's took his first collegiate coaching position with the Rochester Institute of Technology. He took the team to its first NCAA tournaments in both 1983 and 1984. In 1983, he earned the Division III Coach of the Year. [11] Following this success, Tierney joined the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays as an assistant lacrosse coach (winning two national championships), and also served as head coach of the soccer team from 1985 to 1987. [10]

In 1988, Tierney accepted the position as head coach of the Princeton Tigers. He acquired a program that was underdeveloped, and quickly turned it around. Tierney's Tigers won six NCAA championships (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2001) in nine years, and have appeared in eight NCAA championship games, nine NCAA Final Fours and 11 Ivy League championships. [10] In 1992, Tierney was awarded USILA Coach of the Year honors. [12]

Internationally, Tierney coached Team USA to a Gold Medal with a 15-14 OT win over Canada in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championships [10]

In 2002, Tierney was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame with the distinction of being "a truly great coach." [9]

In 1998 and 2001, Tierney and his sons Trevor (a goaltender) and Brendan (midfield/attack), became the first father-sons combination to win an NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship together. His daughter Brianne Tierney, a former player at Loyola of Maryland and Colgate, is currently the women's head coach at Kent State, which will begin varsity play in the 2019 season; her husband Dylan Sheridan is the assistant coach at Ohio State and was the men's head coach at Cleveland State. [13]

Coach Tierney began coaching the men's lacrosse team at the University of Denver on July 1, 2009. IFS Coach Tierney called the change a "wonderful opportunity to start this new chapter in my life." [11]

On May 25, 2015 Coach Tierney led Denver to the team's first national championship. They beat Maryland by a score of 10-5. Denver was the 10th different school to raise the trophy and the first team west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Tierney joined the Waterdogs on March 28th, 2024 as their Head Coach

Head coaching record

University of Denver
SeasonWinsLossesWin Pct.Postseason
2023105.667
202296.600
2021125.706Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division I tournament
202042.667Cancelled due to the Coronovirus Pandemic
2019105.667
2018134.765Lost in quarterfinal of NCAA Division I tournament
2017134.765Lost in semifinal of NCAA Division I tournament
2016133.813Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division I tournament
2015172.895Won NCAA Division I Championship
2014163.842Lost in semifinal of NCAA Division I tournament
2013145.737Lost in semifinal of NCAA Division I tournament
201297.562Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
2011153.833Lost in semifinal of NCAA Division I tournament
2010125.706Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division I tournament
Princeton University
SeasonWinsLossesWin Pct.Postseason
2009133.812Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
200876.538
2007104.714Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division I tournament
2006115.688Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
200557.417
2004114.733Lost in semifinals of NCAA Division I tournament
2003114.733Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
2002105.667Lost in finals of NCAA Division I tournament
2001141.933Won NCAA Division I Championship
2000123.800Lost in finals of NCAA Division I tournament
199994.692Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division III tournament
1998141.933Won NCAA Division I Championship
19971501.000Won NCAA Division I Championship
1996141.933Won NCAA Division I Championship
1995114.733Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
1994141.933Won NCAA Division I Championship
1993132.832Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
1992132.867Won NCAA Division I Championship
1991113.786Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division I tournament
1990114.688Lost in quarterfinals of NCAA Division I tournament
1989311.214
1988210.167
Rochester Institute
SeasonWinsLossesWin Pct.Postseason
1984113.786Lost in Semifinals of NCAA Division III tournament
1983113.786Lost in 1st round of NCAA Division III tournament
1982102.833

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Desko</span> American lacrosse player and coach

John Terry Desko is a retired lacrosse head coach. Desko coached the men's lacrosse team at Syracuse University for 22 seasons from 1999 to 2021. Desko took over as head coach in 1999 from Hall of Fame coach Roy Simmons Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Cook</span> Lacrosse player

Christian Cook is a retired professional lacrosse defenseman who last played professional field lacrosse with the Washington Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lacrosse defenseman of the year award, two United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League championships, and three national championships.

Joshua S. Sims is an American former professional lacrosse player. He played in Major League Lacrosse through 2013 and last played box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League with the Philadelphia Wings in 2010. He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1997 through 2000. He is a two-time NCAA champion, three-time MLL champion, and one-time NLL champion.

Richard M. Moran was an American Hall of Fame lacrosse player and coach.

The 1972 NCAA lacrosse tournament was the second annual tournament hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the team champion of college lacrosse among its members in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse</span> Intercollegiate lacrosse team of Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team represents Johns Hopkins University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college lacrosse. Since 2015, the Blue Jays have represented the Big Ten Conference.

The F. Morris Touchstone Award is an award given by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I lacrosse head coach. The award was first presented in 1958.

The 1998 NCAA Division I lacrosse tournament was the 28th annual tournament hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the team champion of men's college lacrosse among its Division I programs, held at the end of the 1998 NCAA Division I men's lacrosse season.

The Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse team represents Cornell University in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse</span> Mens Lacrosse Team for North Carolina

The North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. North Carolina currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and plays its home games at Fetzer Field and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Their main rivalry series is with fellow ACC member Duke.

The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. The Cavaliers compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and plays home games at Klöckner Stadium, or occasionally Turf Field or Scott Stadium, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The team is coached by Lars Tiffany, who led the team to back-to-back national titles in the 2019 NCAA Lacrosse Championship and 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship.

The NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the annual top men's college lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I. This tournament has determined the national champion since the inaugural 1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. From 1936 through 1970, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) awarded the Wingate Memorial Trophy annually to the collegiate champion based on regular season records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Pioneers men's lacrosse</span>

The Denver Pioneers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Denver (DU) in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college lacrosse. The DU men's lacrosse program was first introduced in 1966 as a club sport. The program alternated between varsity and club status until entering Division I in 1999.

Trevor R. Tierney is a current National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's lacrosse assistant coach, former Major League Lacrosse (MLL) defensive coordinator and retired lacrosse goaltender who has played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and professional field lacrosse in MLL. Trevor starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1998 through 2001, where he was an NCAA goaltender of the year, two-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American, a national goals against average (GAA) and save percentage statistical champion and a member of two national champion teams.

The Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's lacrosse team represents Lehigh University in NCAA Division I college lacrosse. The Mountain Hawks play their home games at Frank Banko Field, which is part of a complex that also includes Lehigh's soccer and field hockey venues. Will Scudder is the program's current head coach since June 19, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drexel Dragons men's lacrosse</span>

The Drexel Dragons men's lacrosse team represents Drexel University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. Drexel currently competes as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and plays its home games at Vidas Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2014, and a second NCAA tournament appearance in 2021.

The NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship is the annual championship in men's lacrosse held by the NCAA for teams competing in Division III.

Wesley Berg is a Canadian professional lacrosse player for the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and Redwoods Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johns Hopkins–Princeton lacrosse rivalry</span>

The Johns Hopkins–Princeton lacrosse rivalry is an intercollegiate lacrosse rivalry between the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and Princeton Tigers. The teams first met in 1890 but would not meet again until 1930, after which, it became an annual staple on the schedule. Part of the enmity in the rivalry stems from the two school's similarities in high-level academics and lacrosse prominence, along with competing for a similar body of applicants. Through much of the latter half of the 20th century, Hopkins would dominate the rivalry. The series would resume national importance in the 1990s with the return of Princeton to the game's elite; since 1990, the Tigers have won six national championships and the Jays have claimed two. With the 90th meeting occurring in 2020, Johns Hopkins leads the series 59–31.

The Cortland Red Dragons men's lacrosse team represents SUNY Cortland in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III men's lacrosse. The Red Dragons compete in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and play home games in the city of Cortland, NY. The team was recently coached by Steve Beville, who led the Red Dragons to a national title in 2009 and retired after the 2023 season. Coach Lelan Rogers, who guided the Red Dragons to a 76-17 record from 2001-2005, returned to Cortland as the head coach in the fall of 2023. In addition to winning four national championships, Cortland has won a record 28 conference championships until 2022.

References

  1. "Pioneers win 1st men's lacrosse title". ESPN.com . 25 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. Newman, K., & Newman, K. (2023, April 30). DU’s Bill Tierney set to retire as sport’s most decorated coach, lacrosse icon. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2023/04/30/du-bill-tierney-lacrosse-retirement/
  3. Bill Tierney Then and Now: 2009 Person of the Year interview. (n.d.). USA Lacrosse Magazine. https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/college/men/bill-tierney-then-and-now-2009-person-of-the-year-interview
  4. William G. Tierney. (n.d.). Bill Tierney Coaching IFS Coach - USA Lacrosse. https://www.billtierneycoaching.com/about-bill
  5. Bean, R. (2023, January 23). Bill Tierney’s last dance: A look at the everlasting legacy of the greatest coach in college lacrosse. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/bill-tierney-denver-university-pioneers-lacrosse/
  6. LetsGoDU. (2023, April 7). LetsGoDU: Epic Bill Tierney coaching run nearing a close. LetsGoDU. https://letsgodu.com/2023/04/07/epic-bill-tierney-coaching-run-nearing-a-close/
  7. Paul Klee (2023, January 5). University of Denver and Princeton lacrosse legend Bill Tierney will retire after 2023 season. Denver Gazette. https://denvergazette.com/sports/college-sports/university-of-denver-and-princeton-lacrosse-legend-bill-tierney-will-retire-after-2023-season/article_4ec5240a-8d64-11ed-8120-3f1a53e98cb9.html
  8. "Delta Kappa Beta Cortland". Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  9. 1 2 "Bill Tierney's National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Bio". USLacrosse.org. Archived from the original on 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Bill Tierney's Princeton Tiger Bio". Princeton.edu. Archived from the original on September 20, 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  11. 1 2 "Denver Athletics: Bill Tierney Named Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Denver". University of Denver. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  12. "US LAcrosse Division I Awards". USLacrosse.org. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  13. "Brianne Tierney". Kent State Golden Flashes . Retrieved November 4, 2017.