St. John's University Athletics
2009 Men's Lacrosse Roster
Dom DeNapoli
- Height:
- 6-null
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Senior
- Position:
- Defense
- Hometown:
- Helwett, N.Y.
- High School:
- Hewlett
Dom DeNapoli enters his third season as an assistant coach with St. John[apos]s University. DeNapoli serves as the assistant coach responsible for the development of the team[apos]s faceoff unit. He also handles all game day substitutions and provides support on the offensive and defensive ends.
DeNapoli[apos]s second season with the Red Storm was the most successful one in program history as St. John[apos]s finished 9-4 (3-3 BIG EAST), posting the most wins since program reinstatement in 2005 and the second-most ever for a lacrosse team at St. John[apos]s.
In 2013, DeNapoli was tasked with leading a Red Storm faceoff unit that returned the school[apos]s all-time leader in faceoff wins, Jordan Rothman. St. John[apos]s would finish just under 50 percent (45.4) on faceoff win percentage on the year, with Rothman posting a 47.2 conversion rate on 246 faceoffs. The Red Storm[apos]s second option at the X, sophomore midfielder Mario Carrera, took 88 faceoffs, winning 44.3 percent.
DeNapoli[apos]s faceoff unit had their hand in St. John[apos]s biggest victories in 2013. In the 7-6 home upset of No. 7/6 Hofstra on March 19, the Red Storm went 4-for-5 at the X in the fourth quarter as St. John[apos]s held off its local rival to notch its first win over the Pride since lacrosse returned to Queens. In the biggest game of the year, the Red Storm[apos]s 12-10 unseating of No. 1 ranked Notre Dame at Arlotta Stadium, DeNapoli[apos]s unit earned a split of the game[apos]s 26 faceoffs, paving the way for the team[apos]s third victory over a ranked opponent on the season and first-ever over a top-ranked team.
DeNapoli[apos]s first season with the Red Storm was also a historic one as the team finished the season with an 8-7 record and a berth in the inaugural BIG EAST Championship game.
With Rothman leading the way for DeNapoli[apos]s unit, St. John[apos]s would finish above 50 percent (.502) on faceoff win percentage in 2012 which ranked 29th in the NCAA. Rothman and long stick midfielder Dillon Ayers - the other main contributor to the Red Storm[apos]s faceoff unit - ended the season ranked one-two in the BIG EAST for groundballs per game. Rothman was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice with a 12-of-22, seven groundball performance against Villanova and a 24-of-39 week at the X that was key in helping St. John[apos]s earn a pair of close victories against Stony Brook and Rutgers.
This is DeNapoli[apos]s first stint at collegiate coaching following his playing career at St. John[apos]s. DeNapoli, who donned the red and white from 2006-2009, was one of the more successful long pole players in Red Storm history. After ranking in the top 100 in groundballs per game his sophomore and junior seasons, DeNapoli led all of NCAA Division I lacrosse with 8.50 groundballs per game as a senior. DeNapoli[apos]s 258 career groundballs is the third highest total in St. John[apos]s lacrosse history.
The Red Storm coaching staff looks to DeNapoli[apos]s experience as a player for help developing the team[apos]s face-off unit. As a player, DeNapoli handled most of St. John[apos]s face-offs and ended his career with 220 wins, third most in school history. For his career DeNapoli was 220 out of 459 on draws, giving him a .479 win percentage.
DeNapoli brings plenty of leadership experience to the coaching staff having served as captain of the 2009 St. John[apos]s squad. That year[apos]s team opened the season 4-0 and moved to as high as No. 14 in the USILA Coaches Poll. In his final collegiate game, DeNapoli recorded a hat trick against eventual national semi-finalist Duke University. After the season, DeNapoli represented St. John[apos]s at the USILA North-South game where he registered a goal, seven groundballs and eight face-off wins for his victorious North squad. That December DeNapoli was selected by the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse in the Supplemental Draft.
DeNapoli has served on the Red Storm coaching staff before, as he spent 2010 as a volunteer assistant for the team. St. John[apos]s went 5-9 during DeNapoli[apos]s season as a volunteer assistant.
Originally hailing from nearby Hewlett, N.Y., DeNapoli starred in lacrosse at Hewlett High School. His impressive senior season was highlighted by conference and county titles as well as honorable mention All-American recognition. DeNapoli also lettered in football and indoor track during his high school career.