John Svec Named Siena Men’s Lacrosse Coach

After a month-long search, Siena has found their man. Last week, John Svec was named the Saints head men’s lacrosse coach.

The former Hobart assistant becomes ninth head coach in program history and he has some previous ties to the Capital Region.

Svec was one of the key architects to the UAlbany lacrosse's rise to power. He served as an assistant coach with the Great Danes from 2001-08, helping guide the program to a 70-43 (.619) record. In his seven seasons, UAlbany made four NCAA Tournament Appearances including a trip to the Quarterfinals in 2007 when the program peaked to a No. 2 national ranking.

The Great Danes excelled on the defensive end of the field under Svec’s leadership as coordinator, capped by a No. 12 national ranking in scoring defense in 2008.

Svec replaces Brian Brecht - who left Siena back in mid-June for the Rutgers head coaching job.

Svec joins the Saints following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Hobart College in the powerful ECAC Lacrosse League. During his tenure with the Statesmen, Svec coached six All-ECAC selections, two USILA North/South All-Stars and a USILA Scholar All-American. Additionally, this past spring Svec served as an assistant coach for the North team at the 69th Annual USILA/LaxWorld North/South All-Star game.

Svec served as defensive coordinator at Hobart, and his corps ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense in 2009, and finished second in the ECAC in caused turnovers per game in 2010.

A native of Arnold, Md., Svec earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Loyola College (Md.) in 2001. A defenseman for the Greyhounds, Svec participated in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments. Loyola posted an impressive 46-10 (.821) overall record during his playing career and advanced to the Final Four of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

Svec inherits a team that posted program record 13 wins this spring. The Saints won the MAAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, finishing the season ranked No. 20 nationally in both the USILA Coaches’ Poll and Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.

He is married to the former Lindsey Hart, who served as head women’s lacrosse coach at UAlbany from 2006-10.