Fairfield University head men's lacrosse coach Andy Copelan announced this morning that Andrew Whitley will join the Stags coaching staff as a volunteer for the 2009-10 season. Whitley's primary responsibilities will be with the Stags face-off men, while working with the scout team and assisting in the day-to-day operations of the program.

"I am very happy to have Andrew joining our staff," said Copelan. "He has an excellent lacrosse background as a player and coach and I am confidant that he will have a positive influence on our program."

Whitley comes to Fairfield after serving as an assistant coach at Yale for three seasons. With the Bulldogs worked with the goaltenders and defense, as well as helping design and implement the team's game plan on a game-by-game basis. He began his coaching career in 1997 at Wesleyan University as the program's defensive coordinator. During that tenure he helped lead the Cardinal to four wins over top-20 teams in the nation and a pair of ECAC Tournament appearances. Whitley also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at The Hopkins School in New Haven, Conn.

Whitley earned a pair of varsity letters at Franklin and Marshall College, helping the squad to the schools third-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 1995. He was a two-time All-Centennial Conference selection as a goalkeeper and currently ranks 18th in league history with a .754 save percentage and 25th with 346 career saves. Whitley played two seasons at Alfred University, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons. Whitley graduated from Franklin and Marshall in 1996 with a B.A. in Sociology.

Fairfield is in its fifth season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League. The Stags posted a 7-6 overall record in 2009, the first under Copelan, and had their best-ever ECAC finish, finishing third with a 4-3 mark.

2009-08-19