Courtesy: New Hampshire Athletic Media Relations
DURHAM, N.H. – Michael Daly (‘90) has
been hired as the University of New Hampshire women’s lacrosse head
coach in an announcement made Monday by UNH Athletic Director Marty Scrarano.
“We are very excited to have Michael Daly return to UNH and
continue the fine legacy of UNH women’s lacrosse,” Scarano said.
“Michael is obviously a very accomplished coach, but he also embodies
all the fine qualities that we seek in selecting head coaches at UNH.
He’s a great teacher, role model, advisor, UNH ambassador and colleague
to the entire department. We have every reason to believe Michael will
carry on the trajectory of success that Sandy Bridgeman created for the
women’s lacrosse program.”
Daly is the eighth head coach in the 34-year history of the New
Hampshire program. He succeeds Sandy Bridgeman (‘87), who compiled a
123-105 record in 13 years.
Daly returns for a second coaching stint at his alma mater. He
initially joined the UNH women’s lax program as an assistant coach in
July 2007 and remained as Bridgeman’s primary assistant until September
2008.
As an assistant at UNH, Daly aided in numerous phases of the
program, including recruiting, practice and game preparation, budget
and team travel, fundraising and community service. The 2008 Wildcats
received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, finished 13-6
overall and ranked No. 6 in the nation defensively.
"I would like to thank Athletic Director Marty Scarano and the UNH
Women's Lacrosse Search Committee for giving me this great opportunity
to lead the women's lacrosse program,” Daly said. “I am humbled, yet
excited, to serve as the next women's lacrosse head coach at my alma
mater. I look forward to leading the Wildcat lacrosse program as
together we write the next chapter in the program's storied history.
“In addition, I am truly honored to succeed Sandy Bridgeman as head
coach and hope to make her and the entire UNH community and all women’s
lacrosse alumnae proud of the program as we forge ahead in our goal to
become one of the elite Division I programs,” Daly added. “My coaching
staff and I will do everything in our power to continue the great
tradition of UNH women's lacrosse and the solid foundation of
excellence that was built before us. The coaches and our dedicated
student-athletes all look forward to the challenges that lay ahead and
to bringing championships home to Durham."
Prior to the 2007-08 year at UNH, Daly was head coach at Stonehill
College (Easton, Mass.), where he compiled a 140-27 record in nine
seasons and was named IWLCA Division II National Coach of the Year
three times (1999, 2003, 2005). He led the Skyhawks to the Division II
national championship in 2003 and 2005 – and a runner-up finish in ’02
– as part of a seven-year span in which the team advanced to the
semifinals five times.
Daly guided Stonehill to nine consecutive conference regular-season
titles (1999-2007), which included eight undefeated league marks, and
eight straight conference tourney championships (2000-07). As a result
of his program’s excellence, Daly was honored as Northeast-10
Conference Coach of the Year a total of six times, including the 2002
through 2006 seasons.
In addition to overseeing every aspect of the women’s lacrosse
program, Daly held the title of Assistant Director of Athletics at
Stonehill College and as such he directed, scheduled and staffed all
athletic facilities for practices, competitions, special events,
fundraising activities and NCAA tournament events; and administered the
equipment, facilities and capital budget. Furthermore, Daly served as
an academic advisor and was also involved with the NCAA Lifeskills
program and SAAC.
Between his coaching stints at UNH, Daly worked at C.E.
Communication Services, Inc. (Franklin, Mass.), where he served as the
marketing director and webmaster, and also oversaw government sales.
Daly earned a B.A. in Communication and Business Administration at
UNH in 1990, then received a master’s degree (’94) and MBA (’96) from
Northeastern University.
New Hampshire has been nationally ranked each of the past 17 polls
(spanning the 2008 and 2009 seasons) and has advanced to the America
East Championship tournament a league-record 12 consecutive years.