Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/29/12
From Press Release
Jim Rogalski has been named the Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Lafayette, Director of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon announced today. Rogalski most recently served as the Head Coach at the University of Scranton and joins the Lafayette coaching staff as the 19th head coach in the program’s 86-year history.
“We are very excited to have Coach Rogalski join Lafayette,” McCutcheon said. “He brings tremendous experience, leadership and a commitment to our mission. We have high hopes and aspirations for men’s lacrosse and truly believe that adding Coach Rogalski to our team is the next great step in that process. We have committed resources to our lacrosse program including staffing, athletic scholarships and utilizing Fisher Stadium as our competition venue. We look forward to partnering with our lacrosse alumni, families and friends in building a lacrosse program of which we can all be very proud.”
As the head man at Scranton, Rogalski led the Royals to the 2011 Landmark Conference Championship and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season on the sidelines. He compiled an 18-15 record after two consecutive winning seasons and also coached Scranton’s first All-American this past year.
“I want to thank Bruce and Lafayette College for the opportunity to become the new head men’s lacrosse coach,” Rogalski said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and my family; I look forward to getting to work and making Lafayette and the Lafayette lacrosse family proud.”
Prior to taking over at Scranton, Rogalski spent six seasons on the coaching staff at Rutgers, beginning in 2004. He spent three seasons as the head assistant lacrosse coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2007.
In his first three seasons under Jim Stagnitta at Rutgers, Rogalski handled various coaching and administrative duties, including game and practice planning, recruiting, monitoring NCAA compliance, as well as organizing clinics for local youth players and youth coaches. In his role as associate head coach, he oversaw the Scarlet Knights’ recruiting efforts, which resulted in nationally-ranked recruiting classes by Inside Lacrosse magazine in 2007 and 2008 and commitments from five High School All-Americans for the 2011 season.
He has also served as an assistant coach at Drexel University, Washington & Lee University, Goucher College, Western New England College, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, his alma mater.
Rogalski’s time at Drexel spanned three years, when he served as the defensive and recruiting coordinators. In his first season with the Dragons, the team recorded nine wins, the fourth-most in the program’s history at the time. He also coached three players who earned All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors and another who was named the conference’s rookie of the year in 2002.
During his undergraduate days at St. Mary’s, Rogalski was a four-year letterman and three-year starter, in addition to a two-time All-Capital Athletic Conference honoree.
Rogalski is the owner of Ski Lax, Inc., and co-owner of Coast to Coast Lacrosse Camp, Inc. He and his wife, Susan, reside in South Abington, Pa. with their two daughters, Ella and Lia.
Rogalski replaces Terry Mangan, who stepped down after 10 seasons as Lafayette’s men’s lacrosse coach.
