St. John's University Athletics
Dan Paccione Promoted To Associate Head Lacrosse Coach
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Nov. 19, 2014
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head men's lacrosse coach Jason Miller has announced the promotion of top assistant coach Dan Paccione to the position of associate head coach of the Red Storm program, effective immediately. Paccione, who arrived in Queens along with Miller in 2009, was previously the third-longest tenured assistant coach in the St. John's Athletic Department.
"I'm very pleased that the University recognizes the contributions Dan has made here over the last nine years," said Miller. "Our players achieve individual success by working with him, and collectively, our program has steadily improved as a result. It has been a team effort for the two of us since day one, and he is an integral part of everything we do here."
While serving as St. John's offensive coordinator and recruiting director for the past eight years, Paccione has been instrumental in returning the Red Storm lacrosse team to national relevance following program reinstatement in 2005.
Fueled by Paccione's offensive style, the 2014 campaign marked the culmination of the most successful four-year span since lacrosse returned to Queens. In 2013, St. John's prowess at the offensive end resonated at the national level amid a record-breaking campaign as the Red Storm (9-4, 3-3 BIG EAST) averaged 12.46 goals per game, fifth best in the country, while posting the most wins since program reinstatement and the second-most ever for a lacrosse team at St. John's. The Red Storm's 12-10 victory over national No. 1 Notre Dame at the Irish's own Arlotta Stadium on March 30, 2013 was the program's first-ever over a top-ranked team and, at the time, saw the Red Storm become the first team in three years to score 12 or more goals at Notre Dame.
Paccione has also helped five different players earn All-BIG EAST recognition during St. John's four seasons in the conference. Last spring, the program graduated three of the top-10 point scorers in school history, including three-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American selection Kieran McArdle. The two-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year is the program's all-time leader in career points (264), goals (125) and assists (139). In August, McArdle was named Major League Lacrosse's 2014 Cascade Rookie of the Year after totaling 49 points on 34 goals and 15 assists for the Florida Launch, setting league records for points and goals in a single season by a rookie.
Prior to St. John's, Paccione spent time at Stony Brook University and Yale, working primarily with the face-off and wing units. He played lacrosse for the University of Massachusetts and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor of science in sports management. As a player, he led the Minutemen to two ECAC Championships in 2001 and 2002, and the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2002, earning first team All-ECAC honors before playing professionally and winning two MLL championships as a member of the Long Island Lizards and Philadelphia Barrage. Paccione and wife, Katie, reside in Wantagh, N.Y., and have three children, Devin (6), Madison (4) and Luke (1).
