Sachem Alum Brecht Named Lax Coach at Rutgers

Sachem alum Brian Brecht has been named as the new head men’s lacrosse coach at Rutgers University.

Brecht, who has 16 years of coaching experience and graduated from Sachem in 1991, left the same position at Siena College where he took that program to great heights in the last few seasons.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brian, his wife Gabrielle, and their daughter Paige to the Rutgers family,” said Tim Pernetti, the director of intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers. “Brian understands the limitless potential we possess and has an unrivaled passion for Rutgers men’s lacrosse.

"We are convinced that his deep relationships and tireless recruiting efforts to find good people will create a positive environment of excellence on and off the lacrosse field.”

Brecht was a Rutgers assistant in 2000-2001. He has made his way around the coaching circuit, starting at Yorktown High School in 1995, working as an assistant at Hartwick (1995-97), the University of Pennsylvania (1997-99), Army (1999-00), Loyola (2001-04) and as the head coach at Siena from 2004-2011.

According to Rutgers, at Siena he was a three-time MAAC Coach of the Year and this past season led the Saints to a conference championship, an NCAA tournament appearance and the program’s first ever national ranking, amidst a 13-5 overall record.

“My family and I are very thankful to Tim for providing me the opportunity to be the head men's lacrosse coach here at Rutgers,” said Brecht in a statement from the university. “I am excited to start and can't wait to meet all the players and alumni as we work together to grow a program that everyone associated with the RU community can be proud of.

“Tim's vision for the lacrosse program, along with over 100 years of tradition, the foundation that Tom Hayes built, and the hard work of Jim Stagnitta, bodes for a strong future. I'm extremely honored and excited to rejoin the Rutgers lacrosse family.”

Brecht played collegiate lacrosse at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He is among an impressive list of former Sachem players to be coaching in college, including (HC Lafayette), Brendan Chamberlain (HC Suffolk), (HC Marquette), (HC Herkimer),   (AC Lafayette) and (AC Molloy).