Chris Scanlon

Chris Scanlon

Having built the Lycoming College men's lacrosse team that reached the conference championship in 2019, head coach Chris Scanlon is set for his eighth year at the helm in 2021.

In his first seven years with the program, Scanlon has guided the Warriors to three appearances in the MAC Commonwealth Championship, coached 16 all-conference selections, an all-region pick, a MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and a MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year.

The longest-tenured coach in program history, Scanlon has risen to second in school history with 40 career wins, sitting behind only the program's first coach, Gene Peluso (1997-01, 41). 

The 2019 Warriors reached a conference final for the first time since 2005, as it finished tied for second in the MAC Commonwealth with a 6-2 record and finished 9-9 overall, posting a 15-12 win over Messiah in the conference semifinals. The team posted a 7-2 run to finish the season and featured four all-conference picks, including MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year Michael Tenant, who set the school's single-game, season and career records for saves during the season.

In 2018, Scanlon helped the Warriors to the second-largest improvement in program history, as the team has jumped from a 5-9 2017 season to a 10-7 record in 2018 after a 6-5 triple-overtime win over Lebanon Valley in the first round of the MAC Commonwealth Championship. He oversaw a rebuilding process that took the team from three wins in 2015 to leading the team to its first 10-win campaign since 2010.
 
The Warriors improved across the board in 2018, averaging 9.68 goals per game and allowing 9.50 after scoring 7.61 per game and allowing 11.60 in 2017. Four players earned all-conference honors and Scanlon earned his first MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award.

In his first year with the Warriors, Scanlon led the team to its first postseason win since 2005, posting an 8-7 win over Messiah in the first round of the Commonwealth Conference Tournament. The Warriors finished 7-10 overall, marking a three-win improvement over 2013, and reached the conference playoffs thanks to a 4-4 league mark. The team also enjoyed a six-game winning streak, the longest at the school since 2010, and featured the league's top scorer in Matt McCaffer. In total, the team featured three all-conference selections and one MAC Academic All-Conference honoree.
 
Scanlon spent two seasons as an assistant at Hobart, helping the Statesman to a two-win improvement in 2013, as the team upset three nationally-ranked opponents, including national finalist Syracuse. He helped coach three all-conference selections, two all-conference rookie team picks, two All-Americans, four North-South selections and one Major League Lacrosse First Round Draft Pick.
 
He also has two years of experience as an assistant coach at the Division III level, serving as a graduate assistant at Clarkson University from 2005-07. At Clarkson, he helped coach one All-American and helped the team to a third-place finish in the Liberty League in 2007.
 
After his work at Clarkson, Scanlon worked for a year as a social studies teacher at the Timber Ridge School in Cross Junction, Va., before spending three years as a social studies teacher at the Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y. At CBA, he was an assistant coach for the Brothers’ boys’ varsity team and the head coach of the junior varsity. 

While working his way through the professional world, Scanlon also spent five seasons as an MLL player. A third round draft pick of the MLL’s Rochester Rattlers in 2005, Scanlon spent parts of four seasons with the Rattlers and one with San Francisco. He has also worked with the Central New York Roadhawks, an elite lacrosse club, and Students of the Game Lacrosse Camp.

A two-time team captain at Hobart, Scanlon played 50 career games, recording 46 career goals and 14 assists for 60 points, and collected 69 ground balls. The North-South All-Star earned Hobart’s Crook Family Award for superior value to the team and the Joseph N. Abraham Memorial Award for perseverance through injury as a senior. As a junior, Scanlon was selected All-Patriot League second team after logging 16 goals and four assists. A year earlier, he earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
 
Before Hobart, Scanlon was a USILA All-American as a senior at Corning-Painted Post West High School.

Scanlon graduated from Hobart with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2005. In 2007, he earned a master’s degree in education from St. Lawrence University while working at Clarkson.

A native of Painted Post, N.Y., Scanlon was inducted into the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He and his wife, Jillian, and daughter, Quinn, reside in South Williamsport.
 
The Scanlon File
Hometown: Painted Post, N.Y.
Wife - Jillian
Daughter - Quinn
Education
2005 Bachelor of Arts - History Hobart College
2007 Master of Education St. Lawrence University
Playing Experience
2002-05 Hobart College
2005-07   Rochester Rattlers Major League Lacrosse
2008 San Francisco Dragons Major League Lacrosse
2011 Rochester Rattlers Major League Lacrosse
Collegiate Coaching Experience
2006-07 Clarkson University Assistant Coach
2012-13 Hobart College Assistant Coach
2014-Pres. Lycoming College Head Coach
Coaching Honors
2018 MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year
2018 Robert Darrow Curry Coach of the Year
Scanlon Year-By-Year
Year W L Pct. Note
2014 7 10 .412 Won program's first postseason game since 2005
2015 3 12 .200 Coached Alex Wylly to first team all-conference honors
2016 4 11 .267 Posted win over CSAC finalist Gwynedd Mercy
2017 5 9 .357 Coached three all-conference selections and the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year.
2018 10 7 .588 Team's first 10-win season since 2010
2019 9 9 .500 Led team to first conference championship game appearance since 2005
2020 2 4 .333 Team beat rival Susquehanna in season-opener 11-7
Total 40 62 .392