Sources: Siena to name Liam Gleason as next men’s lacrosse head coach

UPDATE #2: Siena has confirmed the Gleason hire.

UPDATE #1: Siena has followed Gleason on Twitter. That’s probably a confirmation on the news we reported Monday morning. Would expect a press release sometime later today (Tuesday).

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Siena Saints will name Albany Great Danes associate head coach Liam Gleason as their next head coach, multiple sources tell College Crosse.

Gleason, a 2007 graduate of Albany, just finished his seventh season with the Great Danes. He’s served as the team’s defensive coordinator and associate head coach while on Scott Marr’s staff. Prior to that, he served as the head coach of Division II’s Saint Rose for a season in 2011.

This would be Gleason’s second stint with Siena’s lacrosse program. He got his coaching start as the Saints’ defensive coordinator from 2007 until 2010 under head coach Brian Brecht, who’s now the head coach at Rutgers.

In the past, Gleason had been pursued for a head coaching gig by multiple programs, according to one source. However, Gleason felt that he had “unfinished work” at Albany. This time, Gleason believed he was ready to become a head coach.

In his seven years with the Great Danes, 26 defensive players have earned all-conference honors, with another four players earning all-rookie honors in the America East. Gleason’s defense helped Albany go undefeated in regular season conference play from 2013 until 2017 and helped the Great Danes win five America East Tournament titles during that span.

Since 2015, the Albany defense improved on their goals against margin. They gave up 10 goals per game in 2015 and diminished to 9.98 in 2016, followed by 9.5 in 2017, and finally to 8.63 this past season. The Great Danes had the top man-down defense in the nation at 82.9% in 2017.

A Siena athletics spokesperson said there is no news to report regarding the vacancy at this time.

With Gleason heading to Siena, Colgate is the last remaining opening, with uncertainties at Air Force and Holy Cross involving their head coaches.