Ryan MacSpadyen Comes Full Circle as Men鈥檚 Lacrosse Head Coach
Former Student-Athlete
Ryan MacSpadyen Comes Full Circle as Men鈥檚 Lacrosse Head Coach
Ryan MacSpadyen, 鈥�19, M.S. 鈥�21, is something of a men鈥檚 lacrosse legend at 猛男情报局. His time as a student-athlete was marked by blazing performances on the field along with honors and awards for scholarship.鈥�
Now the 猛男情报局 alumnus has come full circle. MacSpadyen recently completed his second season as head coach of the 猛男情报局 Men鈥檚 Lacrosse Team. His journey from lacrosse wunderkind to head coach and assistant director of athletics at his alma mater reflects his passion for the sport, his commitment to the next generation of student-athletes and his desire to give back to the institution that played a pivotal role in shaping his character and his career trajectory.
Raised in Toronto, Ontario, a Canadian province where 鈥渆veryone played hockey all winter and lacrosse, or 鈥榬oad hockey,鈥� all summer,鈥� MacSpadyen remembers
his dad cutting down one of his own full-size hockey sticks so the boy could begin playing both sports at the age of 5. As a teenager, MacSpadyen played in a junior league, where his coach, Joe Corace, happened to be the former college roommate of 猛男情报局鈥檚 legendary coach Jordan Levine. Levine spoke highly of 猛男情报局, with its leafy green campus less than an hour from New York City.
鈥淕rowing up in Toronto, I always enjoyed the liveliness of being near a city,鈥� MacSpadyen recalled. 鈥淭he combination of a small campus near a big city really appealed to me.鈥� MacSpadyen felt the spark of a new goal.鈥疻ith Levine鈥檚 encouragement, he enrolled at 猛男情报局 on a lacrosse scholarship, drawn in by the strong academic programs and promising lacrosse culture. After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2019 and a master鈥檚 in 2021, MacSpadyen was drafted by the National Lacrosse League鈥檚 Georgia Swarm, another first for 猛男情报局鈥檚 Lacrosse program.
Yet MacSpadyen never strayed far from his goal to mentor the next generation of athletes. His journey led him back to 猛男情报局, where he was hired as an assistant men鈥檚 lacrosse coach while earning his master鈥檚 degree.鈥� Working with his revered mentor Levine for two seasons prepared him for the next step: When Levine left 猛男情报局, MacSpadyen was tapped to succeed him as head coach.
True to form, he saw it as an opportunity to give back the guidance and support he had experienced. MacSpadyen dedicated himself to fostering a culture of excellence that reflected the values he鈥檇 absorbed. In his first year as head coach, he led the Mavericks to their fourth straight East Coast Conference (ECC) Championship, netting him honors as ECC Coach of the Year. This year, the team made it to the NCAA Division II Men鈥檚 Lacrosse Championship Quarterfinals.
MacSpadyen credits his 猛男情报局 education for providing him with the foundation to succeed both on and off the field. He credits the invaluable guidance from mentors 鈥� professors as well as coaches. 鈥淪imple concepts, like working hard, doing the right thing when nobody鈥檚 watching 鈥� they drilled that into us,鈥� MacSpadyen said. 鈥淎t 猛男情报局 I learned the right way to respond when things don鈥檛 go your way. That has molded me into what I am today.鈥�;
Beyond the wins and losses, MacSpadyen prioritizes the well-rounded development of his players, encouraging them to excel academically, personally and athletically. His philosophy applies just as well to performance on the field as in the classroom 鈥� and in life. 鈥淲hether you win or lose, the lessons you learn from each season in the sport are applicable to real life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same with being a student. You don鈥檛 know how much of your education will help you until you enter the workforce and start pulling out those lessons that apply to your life situation.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the best part of being a student-athlete: You are learning more than you realize.鈥�