ONEONTA, N.Y. -- SUNY College at Oneonta Director of Athletics Tracey Ranieri announced today that Oneonta State graduate, Dan Mahar, has been selected as the new men's lacrosse coach.

"Dan Mahar is the epitome of professionalism and will be a great role model and mentor for our men's lacrosse players," said Ranieri. "We welcome Dan to our coaching family for his ability to lead, recruit and build alumni connections. His passion and experience in the game as both a college athlete and coach will continue to move our program forward."

Mahar will take over the men's lacrosse program from Stewart Moan, who left the college last week to become the head men's lacrosse coach at Susquehanna University. Mahar most recently was a senior admissions counselor at the college while working with the men's program as a faculty mentor.

"I want to thank everyone involved in the search process for their confidence and support in offering me this opportunity," said Mahar. "The College at Oneonta has been a wonderful place for me as a student-athlete and as a professional. I'm excited about the chance to continue the success that we've enjoyed over the past several seasons."

He continued, "The team has a talented group of young men returning as well as a strong freshman class whom I expect to help us compete for a SUNYAC title right away.

Mahar is certainly no stranger to the Oneonta State men's lacrosse program having played and coached for the Red Dragons from 1994 to 2001.

Mahar, who transferred from St. Lawrence University in the fall of 1994, was a three-year starter and two-year team captain during his three years as a player. As a senior he helped lead the Red Dragons to its first winning season ever and its first postseason birth. He was selected as an All-Empire Lacrosse League midfielder while being an alternate for the USILA North/South Senior All-Star game.

Mahar was an assistant coach under Jim Nagle in 1999 when the program made its only appearance in the NCAA tournament.

In the fall of 2001, Mahar began an advanced degree program at Endicott College in Massachusetts where he completed a master's degree in organizational management in August of 2003. While at Endicott he spent the fall season of 2001 and the spring season of 2002 as the defensive coordinator for the men's lacrosse team. In the fall of 2002 he was the offensive coordinator and introduced the "dice" offense.

Mahar moved back to Oneonta in January of 2003 where he took a job on campus as a residence hall director. He also became an assistant coach with the Hartwick College men's lacrosse program, where he stayed for the 2003 and 2004 spring seasons.

Mahar inherits a program that completed a 12-5 season this past spring while qualifying for the ECAC tournament four out of the last five years.

2007-07-09