Gary Gait is in line to become the fifth head coach of the Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse program. According to Inside Lacrosse, the former leader of the women’s team is taking the reigns as former head coach John Desko plans to step down.
Gait brings plenty of lacrosse pedigree to the SU men’s staff, and carries possibly the most powerful name in the sport. There’s no information on whether he plans on retaining offensive and defensive coordinators Pat Marsh and Lelan Rodgers, but he should be able to compile lacrosse’s best minds to help a team that at times looked undisciplined on 2021.
Desko retires after a tumultuous 2021 season, but a very successful career at SU. He began as an All-American long pole, then transitioned to coaching, staying under the guise of the legendary Roy Simmons Jr. before taking the head post in 1999. Desko ends his career as an eleven-time national champion as both a head and assistant coach, a six-time conference champion (four Big East, two ACC) and a National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee in 2020.
The Syracuse women’s lacrosse head coaching job is now open, and it should be regarded as the best position in the sport. Syracuse brings in plenty of talent every year and made the national championship without its two best players in 2021. Kayla Treanor is a name getting thrown around on Twitter, and certainly one Orange fans would go nuts for.
All in all, this is a great move for Syracuse. The athletic department hires in-house, the more attractive women’s job is open and John Desko can quietly walk off into the sunset. Kudos to you, John Wildhack.
More on the state of both lacrosse programs in last week’s Fizz Radio.
