Dec. 4, 2003

Poughkeepsie, NY - Marist College Director of Athletics Tim Murray announced this afternoon that assistant coach Andrew Copelan has been named the interim head men's lacrosse coach.

"I have a lot of confidence in Andy and his ability to lead our men's lacrosse program, "said Murray. "Andy has had a very important impact to our lacrosse program in the short time he has been with us."

Copelan was a four-year starter for the Bucknell University Bison, of the Patriot League. As a midfielder, Copelan helped lead the Bison to four consecutive Patriot League titles, and the program's first-ever NCAA berth in 2001. As a senior he earned All-Patriot League team accolades, and was a four-time selection to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for Student Athletes each of his four years at college. He was also chosen as an alternate for the annual North-South game, a national senior all-star game.

Copelan brings a strong knowledge of the game to Marist, having worked around the region in teaching the game of lacrosse. He has been a coach at the Blue Chip Camp in Fairfield, CT, one of the top camps in the region. He has also assisted in teaching the youth, running clinics in his hometown of Pittsford, NY, as well as during his playing career at Bucknell.

Marist is beginning its seventh season as a full member of the 10-school, NCAA Division I MAAC. The Red Foxes have seen success on the field of competition as well as in the classroom since joining the league, becoming the only school in conference history to win four consecutive Commissioner's Cups, for overall athletic excellence, capturing the crown from 1999-2002. In the classroom, the Red Foxes have seen similar success, with three student-athletes earning Academic All-America accolades during the 2002-03 academic year, and had a conference best 101 student-athletes named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll.