University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Lacrosse
Craig McDonald
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Location:
- 284 Boyden
- Alma Mater:
- University of Albany, 2008
- E-Mail:
- cjmcdonald@umass.edu
Alma Mater: Albany '08
Tenure at Massachusetts: Eighth Season
University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse associate head coach Craig McDonald recently completed his seventh season on the Minuteman sidelines in the Spring, 2021. McDonald teaches the defensive side of the game and works with the UMass goalie unit as well.
Following four years as an assistant coach, McDonald received promotion into an associate head coach role after the completion of the 2018 campaign.
The defense again proved a point of pride in 2021 with a consistent effort that included limiting opponents to 10.80 goals per game and a .270 shot percentage. Additionally, sophomore Matt Knote became the second consecutive UMass goalie to earn All-CAA First Team honors following Sean Sconone in 2019 (no CAA award were issued following the cancellation of the 2020 season).
Defense stood as a pillar of the program's successes in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, which was canceled at a nation-wide level in March. Massachusetts held a 5-2 overall record and ranked among the top-20 in the nation through seven games, while the defense limited foes to 9.60 goals per game in the five wins. The Maroon and White accomplished a milestone win during the season as UMass downed No. 1 Yale, 13-10 on Feb. 29 for the program's first-ever victory over the top-ranked team in the nation.
With McDonald's guidance, the Massachusetts defense ranked as one of the nation's most stalwart groups over the course of the 2019 season. Fronted by a pair of Inside Lacrosse First Team All-Americans in defenseman Isaac Paparo and goalie Sean Sconone, the Minutemen limited foes to just 8.87 goals per game, the third-fewest in the nation, in spite of the addition of the 80-second shot clock.
McDonald's leadership helmed the Massachusetts defense throughout its successful campaign in 2018, during which the program won the CAA regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Junior close defenseman Isaac Paparo highlighted the group as he won the CAA Player of the Year Award, collected All-America accolades and was a Tewaaraton Award candidate.
Alongside Paparo, senior defenseman Luc Valenza won All-CAA First Team in 2018, which made Massachusetts the only team in the CAA with a pair of first team close defensemen since Hofstra accomplished the same feat during the 2006 season.
McDonald's defense clamped down on the opposition in 2017 and only allowed 10.07 goals per game while the squad ranked in the top-20 nationally for caused turnovers in each contest, with an average of 7.87 per game. Close defenseman Isaac Paparo, a CAA All-Conference selection, emerged as a leader on the field with a program-record 33 caused turnovers (2.20 per game; sixth-most nationally).
An up-and-down 2015 saw McDonald help the Minutemen earn a berth in to the CAA Championship, where the side advanced by host and No. 1 seed Fairfield, 9-8, for a spot in the finale. Under McDonald's tutelage, short-stick defensive midfielder Ryan Izzo earned his second career USILA All-America honor while close defenseman Kyle Karaska secured CAA First Team All-Conference.
McDonald spent the 2012-14 seasons at Rutgers, where he coached the defense and also served as the team's recruiting coordinator.
In 2013, McDonald mentored Big East Goalie of the Year Kris Alleyne while the squad pulled in four all-conference selections following the 2014 campaign. Prior to working with the Rutgers men's lacrosse program, McDonald was on-staff at Siena to help the team win the Mid-American Athletic Conference and advance to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
McDonald joined the collegiate coaching ranks in 2008 when he was named an assistant at Union College under 1999 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Paul Wehrum. While at Union College, McDonald filled roles as the defensive and recruiting coordinator. In 2010, under McDonald's tutelage, the Dutchmen ranked second among all NCAA Division III programs for scoring defense and fifth for man-down defense while goalie Sean Aaron earned the lowest goals-against average nationally at 5.69 given up per game.
"We are thrilled to have Craig McDonald on our staff," Cannella said. "His experience as a player, coach and mentor serves our players and program extremely well. I have known Craig for more than a decade now and have had the opportunity to watch him excel in aspect of his life. Playing for Scott Marr, then working for coaches Paul Wherum and Brian Bretch has provided Craig with great role models and teachers to emulate. All of his experiences will continue to help him at UMass as he guides our defense."
McDonald played four seasons at Albany from 2005-08, totaling three all-conference selections as a starter on close defense for the Great Danes. The native of Geneva, N.Y., helped the squad make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2007 while the program won 41 games during his playing tenure, an average of more than 10 victories per season.
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Updated: May 10, 2021
Tenure at Massachusetts: Eighth Season
University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse associate head coach Craig McDonald recently completed his seventh season on the Minuteman sidelines in the Spring, 2021. McDonald teaches the defensive side of the game and works with the UMass goalie unit as well.
Following four years as an assistant coach, McDonald received promotion into an associate head coach role after the completion of the 2018 campaign.
The defense again proved a point of pride in 2021 with a consistent effort that included limiting opponents to 10.80 goals per game and a .270 shot percentage. Additionally, sophomore Matt Knote became the second consecutive UMass goalie to earn All-CAA First Team honors following Sean Sconone in 2019 (no CAA award were issued following the cancellation of the 2020 season).
Defense stood as a pillar of the program's successes in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, which was canceled at a nation-wide level in March. Massachusetts held a 5-2 overall record and ranked among the top-20 in the nation through seven games, while the defense limited foes to 9.60 goals per game in the five wins. The Maroon and White accomplished a milestone win during the season as UMass downed No. 1 Yale, 13-10 on Feb. 29 for the program's first-ever victory over the top-ranked team in the nation.
With McDonald's guidance, the Massachusetts defense ranked as one of the nation's most stalwart groups over the course of the 2019 season. Fronted by a pair of Inside Lacrosse First Team All-Americans in defenseman Isaac Paparo and goalie Sean Sconone, the Minutemen limited foes to just 8.87 goals per game, the third-fewest in the nation, in spite of the addition of the 80-second shot clock.
McDonald's leadership helmed the Massachusetts defense throughout its successful campaign in 2018, during which the program won the CAA regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Junior close defenseman Isaac Paparo highlighted the group as he won the CAA Player of the Year Award, collected All-America accolades and was a Tewaaraton Award candidate.
Alongside Paparo, senior defenseman Luc Valenza won All-CAA First Team in 2018, which made Massachusetts the only team in the CAA with a pair of first team close defensemen since Hofstra accomplished the same feat during the 2006 season.
McDonald's defense clamped down on the opposition in 2017 and only allowed 10.07 goals per game while the squad ranked in the top-20 nationally for caused turnovers in each contest, with an average of 7.87 per game. Close defenseman Isaac Paparo, a CAA All-Conference selection, emerged as a leader on the field with a program-record 33 caused turnovers (2.20 per game; sixth-most nationally).
An up-and-down 2015 saw McDonald help the Minutemen earn a berth in to the CAA Championship, where the side advanced by host and No. 1 seed Fairfield, 9-8, for a spot in the finale. Under McDonald's tutelage, short-stick defensive midfielder Ryan Izzo earned his second career USILA All-America honor while close defenseman Kyle Karaska secured CAA First Team All-Conference.
McDonald spent the 2012-14 seasons at Rutgers, where he coached the defense and also served as the team's recruiting coordinator.
In 2013, McDonald mentored Big East Goalie of the Year Kris Alleyne while the squad pulled in four all-conference selections following the 2014 campaign. Prior to working with the Rutgers men's lacrosse program, McDonald was on-staff at Siena to help the team win the Mid-American Athletic Conference and advance to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
McDonald joined the collegiate coaching ranks in 2008 when he was named an assistant at Union College under 1999 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Paul Wehrum. While at Union College, McDonald filled roles as the defensive and recruiting coordinator. In 2010, under McDonald's tutelage, the Dutchmen ranked second among all NCAA Division III programs for scoring defense and fifth for man-down defense while goalie Sean Aaron earned the lowest goals-against average nationally at 5.69 given up per game.
"We are thrilled to have Craig McDonald on our staff," Cannella said. "His experience as a player, coach and mentor serves our players and program extremely well. I have known Craig for more than a decade now and have had the opportunity to watch him excel in aspect of his life. Playing for Scott Marr, then working for coaches Paul Wherum and Brian Bretch has provided Craig with great role models and teachers to emulate. All of his experiences will continue to help him at UMass as he guides our defense."
McDonald played four seasons at Albany from 2005-08, totaling three all-conference selections as a starter on close defense for the Great Danes. The native of Geneva, N.Y., helped the squad make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2007 while the program won 41 games during his playing tenure, an average of more than 10 victories per season.
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| Craig McDonald's Year-By-Year Coaching Results | ||||
| Year | School | Position | W-L | Season Notes |
| 2009 | Union College | Assistant Coach | 7-7 | Liberty League Semifinalists |
| 2010 | Union College | Assistant Coach | 11-4 | Liberty League Semifinalists |
| 2011 | Siena | Assistant Coach | 13-5 | NCAA Tournament; MAAC Champions (Regular Season, Tournament) |
| 2012 | Rutgers | Assistant Coach | 6-9 | - |
| 2013 | Rutgers | Assistant Coach | 2-13 | - |
| 2014 | Rutgers | Assistant Coach | 8-8 | Big East Championship Semifinalists |
| 2015 | Massachusetts | Assistant Coach | 5-10 | CAA Championship Finalists |
| 2016 | Massachusetts | Assistant Coach | 4-9 | - |
| 2017 | Massachusetts | Assistant Coach | 7-8 | CAA Championship Finalists |
| 2018 | Massachusetts | Assistant Coach | 10-5 | NCAA Tournament; CAA Champions (Regular Season, Tournament) |
| 2019 | Massachusetts | Associate Head Coach | 10-5 | CAA Champions (Regular Season); CAA Tournament Semifinalists |
| 2020 | Massachusetts | Associate Head Coach | 5-2 | Season shortened nationally due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | Massachusetts | Associate Head Coach | 4-6 | CAA Championship Semifinalists |
Updated: May 10, 2021
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UMass Men's Lacrosse | Broadcast Highlights vs. Dartmouth | 2.18.25
Tuesday, February 18
