2017 Coaching Carousel: Matt Kerwick Resigns From Cornell. Assistant Coach Peter Milliman Promoted To Interim Head Coach.

The Source GAWD did it again! The below Tweet was sent around Noon today. Seriously, if you aren't following IYFL, @RPDLacrosse or @LacrosseDraws, you're laxing wrong. #SourceGAWD

Big news did come from Cornell today, as Cornell’s Matt Kerwick resigned as the head coach of the men’s lacrosse team. Despite the difficult season, I think this comes as a bit of a surprise to many people, given the fact how Cornell was able to salvage their 2017 after a dismal start to the season.

Indeed, after starting the year 0-5, Cornell won 5 out of their last 8 games and was in the running for one of the 4 spots in the Ivy League Tournament up until the last couple weeks of the regular season. The Big Red actually ended up tied for 4th place in the Ivy with Penn at 3-3, but the Quakers won the head-to-head match-up on March 25th (10-9), and thus earned the #4 seed in the Ivy Tournament.

Coach Kerwick shared how difficult of a decision this was for him in the Cornell press release.

"After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to step aside from my role as head coach of the men's lacrosse team to focus on my family. I would like to thank Cornell University for five great years. The people here have made it a truly special place to work. This decision has taken a great deal of thought because of the 47 young men in the locker room, and all of the former players that I have been so fortunate to build relationships with. With that said, my family and I are looking forward to moving on to a new chapter."

"I am proud of the growth we've seen over the last few seasons and I am confident that this young team is well positioned for a bright future," Kerwick said. "The Big Red family should be excited for all of the great things that lay ahead for our team."

Cornell Athletic Director Andy Noel thanked Coach Kerwick for his years of service.

"I respect and support Matt's decision to focus on family first and very much appreciate the investment he made in the Cornell program. There is nothing more important than family, and all decisions must be made through that lens. Watching our young team play one of the most challenging schedules in the country, the development throughout the season was very apparent and portends great things in the future."

Coach Kerwick took over the program as head coach in June of 2014 after one season as the interim head coach following the abrupt dismissal of former Cornell head coach Ben DeLuca in November of 2013. In his time as head coach, Coach Kerwick led the Big Red “to a combined record of 32-26 (13-11 Ivy), two Ivy League championships, two Ivy League Tournament appearances, and two berths to the NCAA tournament.” Additionally, Coach Kerwick helped coach over twenty of his players to All-Ivy honors, moreover, his highly touted freshman Jeff Teat did something no other Cornell player has done in the last 15 years in being named Ivy League Player and Rookie of the Week in the same week this past week.

Instead of looking elsewhere for a new BOSS, Athletic Director Noel announced that Cornell Assistant Coach Peter Milliman will take over as interim head coach of the men’s program through 2018. BOSS Milliman has been an assistant at Cornell for the last four years. The press release also stated that “A nationwide search will commence at that time to name a full-time replacement.” (Ed. Note: No pressure or anything, Amirite?)

I think most people thought Kerwick would be back for at least one more season. Indeed, in this May 1st article from the Cornell Sun, Coach Kerwick indicated that while 2017 was a difficult year, he was excited about the future of the men’s program.

“They keep getting better and believing in one another. The team is working really hard and that is all I can ask for. We are excited for where we are heading, we have a very young group in our locker room.”

As we always say here at College Crosse ... life comes at you fast.