Sachem Alum Joe Amplo to Become First Head Lacrosse Coach at Marquette University

has been tabbed as the first head coach for Marquette University’s new lacrosse program.

The 1995 Sachem High School graduate is an assistant lacrosse coach at Hofstra University and will finish his season with the Pride, who were selected this week as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association.

“I am extremely excited to be named the first head men’s lacrosse coach at Marquette University,” he said in an email Thursday night. “Having the opportunity to build a Division I program from the ground up is something that I have always dreamed about. While speaking with the folks at Marquette, it became obvious that they have every intention of providing the full amount of resources necessary to field a nationally competitive program.”

He was a JV player in 1993 when Sachem won a New York State title and used that as hope that his varsity teams would be just as successful in the two years he played before graduating in 1995. The Flaming Arrows won Suffolk County and Long Island titles in 1995, but couldn't beat West Genesee, 4-3, in the state finals.

Though former Sachem lacrosse coach Rick Mercurio had a powerful force on Amplo, who remembers hanging on his every word as a middle school student, it was Fred Fusaro who he credits as the best coach he's ever had.

"He had the most influence on me in terms of developing my standards and coaching philosophies," said Amplo, who scored 20 goals and 15 assists at midfield during his senior year. "I put him on a pedestal."

On the football field, he was the team's defensive MVP in 1994 - the same year he earned All-County and All-League honors. After Sachem, he traveled 45 minutes west to attend Hofstra and play lacrosse. He was a first team All-America East selection on defense in 1999 and registered 91 ground balls in 58 career games.

While he’s focused this spring on helping Hofstra go farther than the program has ever gone, he’s excited to get to work in Milwaukee and the Big East.

“Further enhancing my excitement were the people who make up the Marquette community,” he said. “I quickly became certain that this was a great opportunity for me and my family and accepting the responsibility of becoming the head men’s lacrosse coach at Marquette was an easy decision. In the short term, I will finish my obligations with Hofstra University as we strive towards our goal of winning a National Championship. Shortly thereafter, I will hit the road recruiting for Marquette and be on campus at the beginning of September.”

Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney is proud of his assistant and will be looking to fill his spot after the season.

“While we are sorry to see Joe leave Hofstra at the end of this season, we are excited for his opportunity to become a head coach at an outstanding institution like Marquette University,” he said. “Joe has worked hard, both as a player and a coach, to reach this level and we are very happy for him. He brings the passion, intensity and knowledge to his position that will make him successful.”

Marquette also announced that former Notre Dame assistant coach and 2011 California assistant coach Meredith Simon Black will become the University’s first head women’s lacrosse coach with the same timetable as the men’s team.

 “Joe Amplo and Meredith Simon Black are well-suited to be the first head coaches to lead our lacrosse programs at Marquette,” said Steve Cottingham, Marquette Athletic Director. “As up-and-coming coaches, we feel Joe and Meredith will give us every opportunity to be competitive on the national level in a short amount of time. Both are first-time head coaches, but are very accomplished and well respected in the lacrosse community. We expect all of our student-athletes to excel on the field and in the classroom, places where both Joe and Meredith have proven to be great leaders of young adults.”