Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/17/17
From Press Release
Jeremy Hirsch is coming home to the Princeton men’s lacrosse program.
Hirsch, a 2010 Princeton grad and the sole captain of the 2010 Tigers, has been named the defensive coordinator for the men’s lacrosse team, head coach Matt Madalon announced. He comes to Princeton after spending the last four years as the defensive coordinator at Hobart.
“We’re thrilled to have Jeremy Hirsch join our staff,” Madalon said. “As an alum, he has a great understanding of the history and tradition of Princeton lacrosse, as well as a great respect for and loyalty to the University and its mission. He has done an outstanding job at Hobart, helping that program to national prominence and the NCAA tournament. We can’t wait to have him get started working with our guys.”
Hirsch was the coordinator for a man-down defensive unit that led Division I in 2016, when Hobart won the Northeast Conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Hobart defeated Bryant and St. Joe’s, two teams averaging a combined 23 goals per game, in the 2016 NEC tournament and allowed just 13 total goals in the two games.
The Statesmen then won the NEC regular-season championship this past season and reached the conference tournament final.
“Jeremy is all that is right in our profession,” says Hobart head coach Greg Raymond, who coached Hirsch at Princeton before hiring him at Hobart. “This process has been a whirlwind for both of us. I recruited Coach Hirsch, coached him, was there through his growth as a player and leader, and then hired him as a young coach and watched that same journey. We’ve been united in the pursuit of our goals, both with Princeton and Hobart, for the better part of a decade. Needless to say, we’re emotional with this move; however, I could not be more certain of his ability as a coach, teacher, leader and recruiter. Princeton University gets a wonderful representation of what we push for in collegiate athletics. He is an individual who represents integrity, character, and passion in all he does. Hobart will miss him, but Princeton will love him, again.”
Hirsch was a three-year starter for the Tigers as a defenseman. He helped Princeton to the NCAA tournament three times, including the quarterfinals his junior year, and played on Ivy League championship teams as a junior and senior. Princeton also won the inaugural Ivy League tournament when Hirsch was a senior.
After graduating with a degree in history, Hirsch began his coaching career at Malvern Prep in 2012 before getting his first college coaching position at Hampton-Sydney, where he coached the defense and was the program’s strength and conditioning coach.
“I am excited to return to a program I care deeply about in my new role as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator,” Hirsch said. “I would like thank Matt Madalon for providing me with this unique opportunity to join his staff and to coach with the Princeton lacrosse program. It was ingrained in me while a player for Princeton that playing great defense is synonymous with Princeton Lacrosse. I’m eager to build upon that tradition as a coach. I look forward to digging in at Princeton and working with the student-athletes and can’t wait to get started. I would not have this opportunity without the investment Greg Raymond made in me over the past several years, and I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s done for me. My sincere gratitude also goes to the dedicated student-athletes with whom I had the privilege to work during my time at Hobart.”
Other than former longtime volunteer assistant coach Bryce Chase, Hirsch is the first Princeton alum to be a member of the coaching staff since Matt Striebel in 2005.