Multiple sources have reported that the University of Virginia will not renew head coach Dom Starsia’s contract at the end of his deal in January 2017. A reported email circulating around the Virginia Lacrosse Alumni Network stated the news, although a source has said that two prominent UVA alums know nothing about the circulating email.
Starsia has coached the Cavaliers for 24 years, going 274-103 with four national championships, 13 final four appearances, and 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, but missing two tourneys this year and in 2013.
Starsia, 64, is a legendary coach in all of lacrosse. And his firing is a big shock to the college lacrosse world. A titan, whose teams the past few years haven’t been up to typically high standards, will probably be fired due to lackluster seasons. That’s something many people thought would never happen. But it looks like it will come true.
What does this mean for Starsia? Although he’s getting up there in age, he’s said that he still loves the game and wants to continue what he’s been doing. If he wants to stay in Division I, it might be Princeton. He could grow the game in Jacksonville, or go to UMBC and replace another departing legend in Don Zimmerman. Or he can go the high school route perhaps. Or he can retire or go to TV or help the game out with the NCAA and solve the problem with early recruiting. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Starsia if he is ousted at UVA.
What does this mean for Virginia? They lose arguably their greatest coach in program history and need to find a big name replacement. Matt Brown from Denver? Andy Shay from Yale? Shawn Nadelen from Towson? They’ll definitely garner a ton of interest from coaches, as the program is one of the greatest in college lacrosse. They want to win now.
What does this mean for current players? I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens when the new coach comes in. It’s too early to tell if some current guys decide to transfer because of the news. As for the current assistant coaches, some of them may be on the way out if a fresh face comes in from somewhere different.
Finally, what does this mean for prospects? Starsia was able to bring in some of the best of the best. This year, it was #1 senior Ryan Conrad from Loyola Blakefield. Next season will be #1 senior Dox Aiken, followed by #1 junior Matt Moore and #3 Alex Rode, and #2 sophomore Greyson Sallade. At least one top three player for the past four years, and all of them were expecting to play under Starsia. But with him gone and a new face coming in, will some of these players decommit or transfer? It sometimes happens in college football and basketball, and it will more than likely happen here.
This reported firing might change the coaching landscape, and may put more pressure on legendary coaches that have not delivered in previous seasons.
