Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/2/15
From Press Release
Mike Horowitz (Muhlenberg ’11) has been promoted to an assistant coach on the Saint Joseph’s men’s lacrosse coaching staff, head coach Taylor Wray announced today. Horowitz served as the Hawks’ volunteer assistant coach last season.
“I am excited to promote Mike Horowitz to our full-time assistant coach position,” said Wray. “Mike did a terrific job for us last year in the full-time volunteer role, and I am excited to expand his role this season. He has big shoes to fill with the departure of Coach Steve Grossi, but I know he is up to the challenge.”
In 2015, Horowitz assisted in all facets of the program, with a specific focus on mentoring SJU’s goalkeepers and coordinating the scout team defense. Under Horowitz’s direction, Saint Joseph’s produced three All-Conference defenders and saw three different goalkeepers earn Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors last season.
Horowitz will add face-off specialist to his repertoire in 2016.
Horowitz helped the Hawks to an 11-win season in 2015, the second-highest single-season win total in program history. The Hawks led the nation in man-down defense (.800) for the second consecutive year and ranked in the top 15 in scoring defense, caused turnovers per game, clearing percentage, man-up offense, scoring margin, and winning percentage.
“Coach Horowitz has established great demeanor with the players, he does an exceptional job with our goalies, and he has really developed his ability to coach the face-off position,” added Wray. “You add that to his experience in coaching defense, and he has become a very well-rounded coach. We are fortunate to be able to keep him with us here at SJU.”
Horowitz joined the Hawks’ staff from Pfeiffer University, where he coordinated a defense that ranked sixth in Division II in caused turnovers as part of the #14th-ranked team in the country. Horowitz coached one goalkeeper to All-America honors, along with three defensemen to the All-Conference Carolinas team.
Before joining Pfeiffer, Horowitz was the defensive assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University for two seasons. During his short time at FDU, Horowitz coached one goalkeeper and two defensemen to All-Conference accolades. In his first season, Horowitz helped guide the team to an 8-8 record, including a 6-1 mark at home. While a member of the Devils’ coaching staff, Horowitz earned his Master’s Degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications.
A native of Randolph, N.J., Horowitz currently plays with both the field and box Israeli National Teams and played collegiately at Muhlenberg College (’11) in Allentown, Pa. He was a starting goalkeeper for three years and was an All-Centennial Conference selection both as a junior and a senior. Horowitz ties for fourth all-time in single-season saves (164) and ranks fifth all-time in career saves (405).
