A coaching veteran with a history as a successful recruiter,
Tony Mackin '08 is set for his third year at his alma mater as the Lycoming College men's lacrosse team's head coach in 2026.
The Warriors have produced three all-conference picks and two Academic All-District picks in Mackin's tenure.
Mackin led the team to six wins and a plethora of highlights in the 2025 season, as Ben Franco finished his career by posting a Landmark Conference-record 283 saves to give him 978 in his career, the ninth-most in Division III history. Jakob Switzer became the first Warrior to reach 100 caused turnovers in a career and both Joey Hoover and Sean Farrell eclipsed 100 career points.
In Mackin's first year with the Warriors, he helped the team to five wins, including a double-overtime 10-9 thriller in his debut against Gwynedd Mercy. Two Warriors earned slots on the USILA Team of the Week and the team earned the USILA Team Academic Award for the first time in program history.
Mackin came to Lycoming after spending seven years at Averett University in Danville, Va., where he started the men's lacrosse program. In six seasons, Mackin established the foundation for the Cougars in the USA South Athletic Conference before moving to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference for the 2022-23 academic year. He produced the 2021 USA South Rookie of the Year, one Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State Selection and one Academic All-District honoree selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Mackin also served as the associate head coach for three seasons at Division II Tusculum College, where he also helped start a fledgling men's lacrosse program in 2014. Over his final two seasons with the Pioneers, Mackin was the defensive coordinator after serving as the offensive coordinator his first year.
A native of Springfield, Va., Mackin was an assistant coach at Division I Virginia Military Institute, spending three years in Lexington, Va. from 2011-13, where he mentored Major League Lacrosse draft pick and NCAA statistical champion Stephen Robarge, who led the country with 10.15 groundballs per contest.
Mackin was also head coach of VMI's highly-successful club lacrosse team as well. He led the squad to back-to-back title games in the National Club Lacrosse League's Blue Ridge-Tidewater Conference. In 2013, Mackin's club squad claimed the league title, earning a berth in the NCLL national tournament, where the team reached the final four.
Mackin joined the Keydets after a year as a graduate assistant coach at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. and he began his career as an assistant coach at Hayfield Secondary School in 2009.
A 2008 graduate of Lycoming College, he played a pair of seasons before injuries cut his career short. Mackin became a student assistant after the injuries, as he headed the man-down defense and assisted with team conditioning and scouting.
Mackin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Lycoming in 2008 and he earned a Master of Arts degree in secondary education from Marymount in 2010. He and wife, Terese, have a daughter, Virginia, and two sons, Jack and Michael.
| The Mackin File |
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| Hometown: Springfield, Va. |
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| Wife: Terese |
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| Daughter: Virginia |
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| Sons: Jack, Michael |
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| Education |
|
|
| 2008 |
Bachelor of Arts - History |
Lycoming College |
| 2010 |
Master of Arts - Secondary Education |
Marymount University |
| Playing Experience |
|
|
| 2005-07 |
Lycoming College |
|
| Coaching Experience |
|
|
| 2008 |
Lycoming College |
Student Assistant |
| 2009 |
Hayfield Secondary School |
Assistant Coach |
| 2010 |
Marymount University |
Graduate Assistant |
| 2011-13 |
Virginia Military Institute |
Assistant Coach |
| 2014-16 |
Tusculum College |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2017-23 |
Averett University |
Head Coach |
| 2024- |
Lycoming College |
Head Coach |
| Mackin Year-By-Year |
| Year |
School |
W |
L |
Pct. |
Note |
| 2017 |
Averett |
- |
- |
- |
Built team for 2018 season |
| 2018 |
Averett |
0 |
11 |
.000 |
Led team in first year in program history |
| 2019 |
Averett |
1 |
12 |
.077 |
Won first game against Franciscan |
| 2020 |
Averett |
0 |
6 |
.000 |
Coached one Va.SID All-State selection |
| 2021 |
Averett |
4 |
9 |
.308 |
Coached USA South Rookie of the Year |
| 2022 |
Averett |
4 |
11 |
.267 |
Coached two USA South Players of the Week |
| 2023 |
Averett |
3 |
11 |
.214 |
Coached first CSC Academic All-District honoree |
| 2024 |
Lycoming |
5 |
9 |
.357 |
Two players earned slots on USILA Team of the Week |
| 2025 |
Lycoming |
6 |
9 |
.400 |
Ben Franco finishes career ninth in Division III history with 978 career saves |
| Total |
|
23 |
78 |
.228 |
