By Chris Goldberg, Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/7/24
Jack Forster was named head coach at La Salle College High today, the school announced.
Forster comes to the District 12 power and 2024 PIAA 3A state runner-up after pushing the Academy of the New Church into the national limelight. Forster posted a 75-27 record in five seasons at ANC, winning the Friends Schools League crown in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and again in 2023 (there was no 2020 campaign) when he had the Lions among the top 5 of the national rankings at one point.
Forster, a two-time All-American and three-time All-EPSLA pick at La Salle who later starred at Penn State, replaces his older brother Rob for the second time. Jack served under Rob at ANC for five years before taking over that program. Rob Forster recently resigned as La Salle head coach to take an assistant coaching position at Penn.
On the hiring of Jack Forster, La Salle’s Athletic Administrator, Bob Zanneo, said, “We are excited to have an alum who is well-established and well-respected in the lacrosse community back at his alma mater to lead our program into the future. Jack has done great things during his tenure at ANC, and his knowledge and passion for the game will help continue the great success that our La Salle lacrosse program is known for at the local and national levels.”
Forster was a foir-year letterman at Penn State. Forster overcame numerous knee injuries to become a 2013 USILA Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick. He was team captain as well as an All-American selection. He finished his Penn State career – which last six seasons due to losing two years with injuries – with 104 goals (second in school history when he graduated) and 148 points.
Currently, he is on the New Balance All-American Philadelphia Region Staff and serves as Head Coach. He is also Co-Director of the Duke’s Elite Lacrosse Club, which is the top-ranked lacrosse club in the state of Pennsylvania.
At La Salle, Forster’s teams captured three Philadelphia Catholic League Lacrosse Championships, and berths in the EPSLA title games in 2005 and 2007. He was also a three-time First Team All-Catholic selection in football. Forster played at Penn Charter as a freshman.
Forster takes over a lacrosse program that has reached the finals of the Pennsylvania State Championship ten times, winning five titles (2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2019), and captured 27 Philadelphia Catholic League Championships (1993, 1995-2002, 2004-2010, 2012-2014, 2016-2019, and 2021-2024).
Forster also was selected by the the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft in 2013 after competing in the USILA senior All-Star Game.
