Jack Emmer
Encyclopedia
John S. Emmer is a former American lacrosse
coach. He retired in 2005 as the winningest lacrosse coach in NCAA history by number of wins with 326. This mark was surpassed in 2008 by Jim Berkman
of Division III Salisbury University. Emmer is one of only two head coaches to have led three different teams to the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament
.
and attended Rutgers University
, where he played football as a wide receiver
and lacrosse as a defenseman. He lettered in lacrosse three times from 1965 to 1967. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
named him to the All-American
second team. He was voted most valuable player
by his teammates and made an appearance in the North-South Senior All-Star Game
upon the end of his college career in 1967. Emmer was selected in the 13th round of the 1967 NFL Draft
as the 327th overall pick by the New York Jets
.
.
In 1973, Emmer took over as head coach at Washington and Lee. He led the Generals to six-straight NCAA tournament appearances between 1973
and 1978
. In 1973, Washington and Lee finished the regular season with a perfect 14-win mark. The Generals defeated Navy
in overtime, 13–12, to advance to the semifinals, where they were beaten, 18–5, by Maryland. The Generals again finished 1974 undefeated with a 15–0 record, and received a bid to the NCAA tournament. In the first round, they beat Navy, 11–9, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Johns Hopkins, 11–10. In the 1975 NCAA tournament, Washington and Lee beat Hopkins, 11–7, at Homewood Field
to end the Blue Jays' 27-game home winning streak. The Generals then fell to Maryland, 15–5, in the semifinals. In total, Emmer led Washington and Lee to ten NCAA tournaments.
In 1984, he moved to the United States Military Academy
to take over the Army lacrosse
team. At West Point, he led the Black Knights to eight NCAA tournament appearances, which set a school record for a head coach. He also become one of the only two head coaches to led three different teams to the NCAA semifinals. Under Emmer, Army won ten outright or shared Patriot League
conference championships, including five straight from 1991 to 1995, over which period the Black Knights posted a perfect 25–0 conference record. In all, Emmer recorded a 70–12 Patriot League mark. Emmer was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1998. In 2002, he coached an all-star collegiate United States national team
to the gold medal in the World Lacrosse Championship
in Perth, Australia
. In 2003, Emmer broke the NCAA record for wins by a coach, and received the Howdy Myers Man of the Year Award. Emmer retired from coaching after the 2005 season in order to spend more time with his family in Skaneateles, New York
.
Emmer was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005. He has also been inducted into the Charlottesville
, Hudson Valley
, and Long Island Metro Area US Lacrosse
chapters Halls of Fame.
under head coach Mike Pressler
, who played for Jack at Washington & Lee.
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
coach. He retired in 2005 as the winningest lacrosse coach in NCAA history by number of wins with 326. This mark was surpassed in 2008 by Jim Berkman
Jim Berkman
James "Jim" Berkman is an American lacrosse coach. He has served as the head coach at Salisbury University since 1989, and before that spent one season as the head coach at SUNY Potsdam. Berkman's teams have won eight Division III national championships and 15 Capital Athletic Conference ...
of Division III Salisbury University. Emmer is one of only two head coaches to have led three different teams to the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
.
Early life
Emmer grew up in Mineola, New YorkMineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
and attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, where he played football as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and lacrosse as a defenseman. He lettered in lacrosse three times from 1965 to 1967. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
named him to the All-American
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
second team. He was voted most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
by his teammates and made an appearance in the North-South Senior All-Star Game
North-South Senior All-Star Game
The North-South Senior All-Star Game is an annual postseason college lacrosse game featuring the best players from the graduating class. It is hosted by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association , one of the college sport's main governing bodies. The inaugural event occurred in 1940 at...
upon the end of his college career in 1967. Emmer was selected in the 13th round of the 1967 NFL Draft
1967 NFL Draft
The 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
as the 327th overall pick by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Coaching career
In 1970, Emmer received his first head coaching position at Cortland State. During his three-year tenure there, he posted a 32–6 record and led the Red Dragons to an appearance in the recently established NCAA tournament in 19721972 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1972 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the second annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. This was the last NCAA championship in which the Wingate Memorial Trophy was also presented to the national champion...
.
In 1973, Emmer took over as head coach at Washington and Lee. He led the Generals to six-straight NCAA tournament appearances between 1973
1973 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1973 NCAA Division I tournament championship game was played at Franklin Field in Philadelphia in front of 5,965 fans. The undefeated Maryland Terrapins, led by coach Bud Beardmore and Hall of Fame midfielder Frank Urso defeated Johns Hopkins 10 to 9 in two overtimes, with Urso scoring the...
and 1978
1978 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1978 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 8th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
. In 1973, Washington and Lee finished the regular season with a perfect 14-win mark. The Generals defeated Navy
Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse
The Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...
in overtime, 13–12, to advance to the semifinals, where they were beaten, 18–5, by Maryland. The Generals again finished 1974 undefeated with a 15–0 record, and received a bid to the NCAA tournament. In the first round, they beat Navy, 11–9, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Johns Hopkins, 11–10. In the 1975 NCAA tournament, Washington and Lee beat Hopkins, 11–7, at Homewood Field
Homewood Field
Homewood Field is the athletics stadium of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. It was built in 1906 and has an official capacity of 8,500 people. The name is taken, as is that of the entire campus, from that of the estate of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. It serves as the home...
to end the Blue Jays' 27-game home winning streak. The Generals then fell to Maryland, 15–5, in the semifinals. In total, Emmer led Washington and Lee to ten NCAA tournaments.
In 1984, he moved to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
to take over the Army lacrosse
Army Black Knights men's lacrosse
The Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
team. At West Point, he led the Black Knights to eight NCAA tournament appearances, which set a school record for a head coach. He also become one of the only two head coaches to led three different teams to the NCAA semifinals. Under Emmer, Army won ten outright or shared Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
conference championships, including five straight from 1991 to 1995, over which period the Black Knights posted a perfect 25–0 conference record. In all, Emmer recorded a 70–12 Patriot League mark. Emmer was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1998. In 2002, he coached an all-star collegiate United States national team
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
to the gold medal in the World Lacrosse Championship
World Lacrosse Championship
The World Lacrosse Championship is the world championship for international men's field lacrosse. From its inception in 1967 through the 2006 event, it was sanctioned by the International Lacrosse Federation...
in Perth, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. In 2003, Emmer broke the NCAA record for wins by a coach, and received the Howdy Myers Man of the Year Award. Emmer retired from coaching after the 2005 season in order to spend more time with his family in Skaneateles, New York
Skaneateles, New York
Skaneateles, New York may refer to:*Skaneateles, New York *Skaneateles, New York...
.
Emmer was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005. He has also been inducted into the Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
, and Long Island Metro Area US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
chapters Halls of Fame.
Personal life
Emmer and his wife, Joan, have two children, a son and daughter. His son, Patrick, plays as a midfielder at Bryant UniversityBryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
under head coach Mike Pressler
Mike Pressler
Mike Pressler is an American lacrosse coach. He is currently the head coach of the Bryant University Bulldogs as well as the 2010 United States national lacrosse team. He served as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils for 16 seasons until he was fired during the 2006 Duke University lacrosse...
, who played for Jack at Washington & Lee.