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The Daily OrangeDesko beats odds, becomes 1st coach to win consecutive titles in 11 years
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 5/25/09, 7:02 PM EST Section: Sports
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Desko laughed. The SU head coach won a national championship - again.
Desko's Orange won the 2009 national title, giving Syracuse back-to-back titles for the first time during Desko's tenure at SU.
Syracuse's 10-9 overtime thriller against Cornell Monday in the NCAA tournament final game made the Orange the first program in more than a decade to win consecutive national titles. Bill Tierney's Princeton team won three straight from 1996-98. Syracuse had not won back-to-back championships since 1988-90 under former head coach Roy Simmons Jr. All five of Desko's titles with Syracuse have come in this decade.
And there's still one more year to go.
"It wasn't easy," Desko said of beating the odds becoming the first team to win two straight in so long. He described himself at "a loss for words" at the post-game press conference.
Before the media frenzy, Desko hugged Tim on the field during the postgame celebration. John Desko smiled with pride as he congratulated Tim, a redshirt freshman who shared a starting role with attack Chris Daniello this season. Tim told his father they'd win more rings together, then coach Desko told his son to go find his mother.
After a turbulent four years with this group of seniors, ending their time at Syracuse with consecutive titles was "perfect," Desko said.
"We have the best coaches in America," said Nims, who scored the game-tying goal in regulation and received the Most Outstanding Player award for the tournament. "They stick through us through thick and thin over the years. …They are our best friends and teach us everything we know. I can't say enough good things about coach Desko and our staff."
Senior Matt Abbott fed Nims the game-tying goal. Senior Dan Hardy fed Cody Jamieson the game-winning goal. It seemed fitting that the seniors who experienced the dismal 5-8 2007 season helped cement Desko's first consecutive titles. The team that had the worst season in Syracuse lacrosse history also gave Desko the best two years in his tenure to date.
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