Western New England Grad Arrives After Two Season on North Carolina Lacrosse Staff
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – Oct. 25, 2013) Colgate head coach Mike Murphy on Friday announced the hiring of Stephen Toomy as his newest assistant coach.
Toomy, 26, comes to the Raiders from North Carolina, where he spent two seasons as director of men’s lacrosse operations under head coach Joe Breschi. Prior to that, Toomy served two years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, Western New England College in Springfield, Mass.
“We’re very excited to add Stephen Toomy to our coaching staff. Stephen will work specifically with our defensive personnel,” Murphy said. “Stephen is coming from a great program at North Carolina. He’s worked with one of the greatest defensive coaches in the country in Joe Breschi, as well as their entire staff. Brian Holman does a great job with their goalies, so it’s going to give Stephen a great bunch of resources to be able to coach our goalies.”
Toomy replaces Joe Starsia, who left Colgate to join the staff of his father, Dom, at Virginia.
“Good luck to Joe as he heads to Virginia,” Murphy said. “You can say we lost one and we won one from the ACC.”
Murphy has Toomy slated to coordinate the Raiders defense, from 6-on-6 to the man-down unit. Individually, Toomy will work alongside Murphy and volunteer coach Matt Abbott to manage the close defensemen and defensive midfielders, while paying special attention to the goalkeepers.
“That was an important part of my search – to find somebody who was going to be able to really embrace the goaltending position for us,” Murphy said. “With two young goalies in Brandon Burke and Jake Danehy, and then a veteran stopper in senior Conor Murphy, it’s going to be really important for Stephen to create a great bond with those guys as we move forward into the new Patriot League.
“Defensively, Stephen is going to do a great job for us with his playing history under John Klepacki at Western New England. I’m great friends with John, so I know what Stephen is bringing to Colgate. I’m very excited for Stephen to join our staff.
While at Western New England, Toomy assisted with the Golden Bears defense and goalkeepers. In 2011, he coached goalkeeper Brewster Knowlton to ECAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and USILA All-America honorable mention status.
Toomy is a 2009 Western New England graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He lettered four years on defense for the Golden Bears and three times was named All-Commonwealth Coast Conference second team.
What others are saying about Stephen Toomy
North Carolina head coach Joe Breschi: “Steve Toomy has been a tremendous asset to the UNC lacrosse program as the director of operations the last two seasons. His goal has always been to coach. I’m thrilled and excited for Steve’s latest opportunity with Coach Murphy and the Colgate men’s lacrosse program. He’s earned it and will be a tremendous contributor to their program from day one.”
Western New England head coach John Klepacki: “I’m very proud of the effort Stephen has put in to be able to move up the profession. It’s been great to watch him develop over the past five years. He’s taken the desire he had as a player and transferred it into his profession as a coach.
“He’s such a go-getter in trying to improve staffs and, ultimately, have teams play at a really high level. Every player that has had Steve coach them knows that he’s gone to bat for them in every aspect he can in a relentless pursuit to get better.”