Spring Break
The Daily OrangeGait hired as women's lax head coach
Source later retracts remarks
By Matt Gelb and Mark Medina
Posted: 7/31/07, 1:30 AM EST Section: Sports
JULY 31, 11:28 A.M. -- Gary Gait will be the next coach of the Syracuse women's lacrosse team, a source close to Gait said Monday.
Jen Adams, associate head coach for the women's team at Maryland and a former player under Gait when he coached at Maryland, was asked if she definitely knew Gait would be coaching Syracuse.
"I believe so," Adams answered. "I sent a text message to him to congratulate him. He's really excited to get back into the (women's) game and obviously has been good about getting in touch with alumni."
A Syracuse spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the hiring Monday. There is no timetable for a formal announcement. Neither Gait nor SU Director of Athletics Daryl Gross returned phone calls for comment.
"I'm excited," Adams said. "He's back in the women's game. He brings creativity and his creative energy will create a buzz knowing he will be back out there."
After publishing the story Monday afternoon on The Daily Orange's Web site, Adams later refuted the remarks, claiming in a follow-up phone call that she sent the text message to Gait simply congratulating him on the opportunity to coach. She contacted Inside Lacrosse magazine after its Web site posted a link to The D.O.'s story, saying she only talked about "what Gait was like as a coach."
The Daily Orange removed the story from its Web site during the day to verify what Adams said on the record. The DO stands by its original story.
"Syracuse did an incredible job (going) after him," Adams said. "He's a big name in women's lacrosse."
Gait, as an athlete, led SU to three Division I championships from 1988 through 1990 and set a school record with 192 goals. A three-time first-team All-American, Gait also holds a single-season record of 70 goals in 1988.
He spent nine seasons as the women's assistant coach at Maryland (1994-2002), winning seven straight NCAA championships.
Last week, SU head coach John Desko told The Daily Orange he understood Gait was able to carry over his background from field, box, men's and international lacrosse and adapt to the women's game. Adams agreed with that assessment.
"He sometimes played against us," Adams said. "He earned that level of respect. He'd grab a women's stick and it gave us a sense that he understood where we were coming from. He'd have five girls running around trying to check his stick."
Gait was about to start his third season as head coach of the Colorado Mammoth, of the National Lacrosse League before Gross began showing interest in Gait coaching the women's team at Syracuse.
Gait was inducted into the U.S. National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005.
Jen Adams, associate head coach for the women's team at Maryland and a former player under Gait when he coached at Maryland, was asked if she definitely knew Gait would be coaching Syracuse.
"I believe so," Adams answered. "I sent a text message to him to congratulate him. He's really excited to get back into the (women's) game and obviously has been good about getting in touch with alumni."
A Syracuse spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the hiring Monday. There is no timetable for a formal announcement. Neither Gait nor SU Director of Athletics Daryl Gross returned phone calls for comment.
"I'm excited," Adams said. "He's back in the women's game. He brings creativity and his creative energy will create a buzz knowing he will be back out there."
After publishing the story Monday afternoon on The Daily Orange's Web site, Adams later refuted the remarks, claiming in a follow-up phone call that she sent the text message to Gait simply congratulating him on the opportunity to coach. She contacted Inside Lacrosse magazine after its Web site posted a link to The D.O.'s story, saying she only talked about "what Gait was like as a coach."
The Daily Orange removed the story from its Web site during the day to verify what Adams said on the record. The DO stands by its original story.
"Syracuse did an incredible job (going) after him," Adams said. "He's a big name in women's lacrosse."
Gait, as an athlete, led SU to three Division I championships from 1988 through 1990 and set a school record with 192 goals. A three-time first-team All-American, Gait also holds a single-season record of 70 goals in 1988.
He spent nine seasons as the women's assistant coach at Maryland (1994-2002), winning seven straight NCAA championships.
Last week, SU head coach John Desko told The Daily Orange he understood Gait was able to carry over his background from field, box, men's and international lacrosse and adapt to the women's game. Adams agreed with that assessment.
"He sometimes played against us," Adams said. "He earned that level of respect. He'd grab a women's stick and it gave us a sense that he understood where we were coming from. He'd have five girls running around trying to check his stick."
Gait was about to start his third season as head coach of the Colorado Mammoth, of the National Lacrosse League before Gross began showing interest in Gait coaching the women's team at Syracuse.
Gait was inducted into the U.S. National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
bkw
posted 7/31/07 @ 9:13 AM EST
uh-oh!
i'm a huge fan of what gary has done for the game in general, and his influence on women's lax is nothing short of mind-boggling. i was @ umd during that run of 7 straight nat'l champs. (Continued…)
CBB
posted 7/31/07 @ 10:26 AM EST
I know you guys take pride in breaking stories, but you have really missed the mark on this one.
Jen Adams is the preminent women's lacrosse icon and if you have misquoted her than you're taking a huge blow to the DO's integrity. (Continued…)
cbbaird
CBB
posted 7/31/07 @ 10:30 AM EST
I know you guys take pride in breaking stories, but you have really missed the mark here.
If Jen Adams made a mistake with her comments then so be it. (Continued…)
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