August 17, 2010

Finlay, Glennon Complete Harvard Men’s Lacrosse Staff

Photo courtesy of David Silverman Photography.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – James Finlay and Ryan Glennon have been named as assistant coaches for the Harvard men’s lacrosse program, Chris Wojcik, The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard men’s lacrosse announced Tuesday.  Finlay will serve as the program’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.  Glennon will be involved in all aspects of the program.

“I’m pleased to welcome Jim Finlay and Ryan Glennon to Harvard,” Wojcik said.  “Jim and Ryan are individuals of high character and they are excellent ambassadors for Harvard and the lacrosse program.  Both men are great mentors who will develop positive relationships with our student-athletes.”

Finlay, who served as head coach at Trinity College for the last five seasons, guided the Bantams to a 40-37 record during his tenure.  Finlay coached Trinity to the No. 1 defense in the New England Small College Athletic Conference and No. 15 nationally in 2010.  In addition, Trinity’s man-down unit ranked No. 1 in the NESCAC and No. 6 nationally.  In 2009, Trinity’s defense ranked No. 2 in the NESCAC.  During the 2009 season, Trinity boasted a 10-6 record, marking the team’s best finish since the 2000 campaign, helping the Bantams to a national ranking and a third straight berth in the NESCAC tournament.  Finlay, who coached Trinity to a 9-7 record in 2010, arrived at Trinity in 2006 after spending seven years as an assistant coach at Brown.

With the Bears, Finlay helped Brown rank No. 1 in the Ivy League and No. 7 in the nation in defense in 2004 in his role as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.  Prior to his stint at Brown, Finlay worked as an assistant coach at Notre Dame University for two years, helping the Irish capture the 1999 Great Western Lacrosse League title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. He served as the top assistant and defensive coordinator at Springfield College for three seasons, compiling a 25-16 record. In 1995, Springfield posted a 13-1 mark and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Division II tournament.

Finlay earned his bachelor's degree in history and Classical studies from Gettysburg College in 1992, where he was a three-year letterwinner in lacrosse on teams that posted a 33-9 overall mark and captured two Middle Atlantic Conference Championships. Considered one of the outstanding young defensive coaches and recruiters in the nation, Finlay went on to earn a master's degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1997.

“Jim is an outstanding coach, and I’m confident our defense will be in good hands,” Wojcik said.  “Jim is an accomplished recruiter, possesses a strong work ethic, and he is an excellent defensive tactician.  His success in the Ivy League and the NESCAC provide the experience to succeed at Harvard.”
Glennon, a former standout player at Colby College, was most recently an assistant coach for Delaware during the 2010 season. During his time with the Blue Hens, Delaware won its final three regular-season games to earn a spot in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament before ultimately earning a berth in the NCAA tournament.  Glennon helped coach Delaware to a No. 12 final United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association ranking, while attackman Curtis Dickson was named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, as well as CAA Player of the Year.

He served three seasons at NCAA Division III power St. Lawrence as offensive coordinator in 2006-09 before coming to Delaware.   A native of Exeter, N.H. and an All-American player at Phillips Exeter Academy, Glennon led St. Lawrence to its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 as the Saints continued a string of NCAA appearances and maintained an unbeaten streak in conference play. Through the 2009 season SLU enjoyed a 32-game conference unbeaten streak, four straight conference championships, and four straight NCAA appearances.

Glennon is a 2004 graduate with a degree in English from Colby, where he was also four-year starter as a face-off specialist while also playing midfield and attack. He was Colby's third-leading scorer in 2004 and was named to the East-West Senior Game roster.

After graduation, Glennon worked at the Kents Hill School as the Associate Director of Admissions. He returned to his alma mater the following year to begin his collegiate coaching experience, joining the Colby staff as an assistant coach. He also coached both the Maine Select Lacrosse team and the New England Premier Lacrosse team in the summer of 2006, and later that year, Glennon joined Bowdoin College as an assistant coach and Game Management Coordinator.

“Ryan is an up and coming coach with a tireless work ethic,” Wojcik said.  “He has been affiliated with winning programs throughout his coaching career, and he has developed a diverse skill set.  Ryan’s background and college career will help him develop a positive rapport with our players.”