The 2025 season is Jake Coon’s 16th season as the RIT men’s lacrosse head coach. During his decade-and-a-half, Coon has led the Tigers to two National Championships, 14 Conference Championships, and nine Final Four appearances.
The winningest coach in program history, Coon led RIT to 21-3 record in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Championship Game for the fifth time and third in five seasons.
Honors/Accomplishments as Head Coach
- 2022 and 2021 National Champions
- 276 wins as head coach (Most in program history)
- .904 winning percentage is the highest winning percentage in Div. III history
- 15 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (There was no NCAA Tournament in 2020)
- 5 National Championship Game appearances (2013, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024)
- 10 NCAA Final Four appearances
- 2011 and 2013 USILA Division III Coach of the Year
- 2013 MCLA Division III Coach of the Year
- 13 Conference Championships
- 11 consecutive Liberty League championships from 2012-present
- 108 All-Americans
- 2 National Players of the Year
- 19 major award winners, including Michael Grace (Defenseman Year) in 2024
- 10 Liberty League/E8 Players of the Year
- 11 Liberty League Defensive Players of the Year
- 139 All-Liberty League/All-E8 selections
- 7 Liberty League/E8 Coach of the Year awards
Notable Games as Head Coach
- May 30, 2022 – RIT beats Union, 12-10 in East Hartford, Conn. for the program’s second straight NCAA Championship
- May 30, 2021 – RIT beats Salisbury, 15-14 in double overtime in East Hartford, Conn. for the program’s first NCAA Championship to cap off an undefeated season.
- May 19, 2013 – RIT takes down Cortland, 10-9 in overtime to advance to the NCAA Div. III Championship game for the first time in program history.
- March 12, 2016 – Coon led RIT to a 12-8 win over Rensselaer to become the all-time winningest coach in program history.
- May 1, 2021 – Coon collects his 200th with a 12-10 win against Union.
- April 7, 2015 – RIT beats Nazareth, 15-10 to win his 100th career game.
- March 10, 2010 – RIT beats Scranton, 12-8 to win his first game at RIT.
Coaching Career Prior to RIT
After graduating from Nazareth in 2002, Coon spent five years at Nazareth from 2001-2005. He worked directly with the goalies and defense at Nazareth, helping guide the Golden Flyers to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2004 national championship game. Following Nazareth, Coon spent four years at UMass as the defensive coordinator and worked closely with the goalies, helping guide the Minutemen to the 2006 national championship game.
Playing Career
A four-time All-American goalie at Nazareth College, the Homer, NY native is Nazareth’s only four-time All-American. He led Nazareth to a 51-10 record, helping the Golden Flyers to the NCAA Division III title in 1997. Coon earned First Team All-American and USILA Goalie of the Year honors in 1998 and 2000. He was inducted into the Nazareth Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Coon played professionally for the Rochester Knighthawks (National Lacrosse League) from 2000-2003, and the Rochester Rattlers (2001-2005) and Boston Cannons (2005-2009) of the Major Lacrosse League. Coon was inducted into the Upstate New York chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018 and was inducted into the Rochester Lacrosse Hall of Fame in November 2021.
Personal Life
Coon resides in Honeoye Falls, NY with his wife Kara and their sons Jackson (16) and Colson (11).
Coach Coon's Record at RIT
| YEAR |
RECORD |
E8/LL |
HIGHLIGHT |
| 2010 |
14-6 |
6-2 |
NCAA Quarterfinalist, E8 Champions |
| 2011 |
19-1 |
8-0 |
NCAA Semifinalist, E8 Champions |
| 2012 |
16-3 |
5-1 |
NCAA Quarterfinalist, LL Champions |
| 2013 |
19-3 |
6-0 |
NCAA Finalist, LL Champions |
| 2014 |
20-1 |
6-0 |
NCAA Semifinalist, LL Champions |
| 2015 |
21-1 |
7-0 |
NCAA Semifinalist, LL Champions |
| 2016 |
18-2 |
7-0 |
NCAA 2nd Round, LL Champions |
| 2017 |
20-3 |
6-1 |
NCAA Finalist, LL Champions |
| 2018 |
21-1 |
8-0 |
NCAA Semifinalist, LL Champions |
| 2019 |
20-2 |
8-0 |
NCAA Quarterfinalist, LL Champions |
| 2020 |
4-0 |
1-0 |
Remainder of season canceled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2021 |
14-0 |
4-0 |
NCAA Champions, LL Champions |
| 2022 |
22-1 |
6-1 |
NCAA Champions, LL Champions |
| 2023 |
21-2 |
7-0 |
NCAA Semifinalist, LL Champions |
| 2024 |
21-3 |
6-1 |
NCAA Finalist |
| TOTAL |
270-29 |
90-6 |
2 National Championship (2021, 2022) |
| W% |
.904* |
.937 |
15 Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances |
|
|
|
13 Straight E8/LL Championships |
* Coon owns the highest winning percentage in NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse history.
