Our staff consists of some of the top coaches in the area, each with a proven player development track-record
graham Niemi is the head coach for Fairfield Prep and serves as the Assistant Athletic Director. Prior to prep, Coach Niemi spent 13 years as the Defensive Coordinator (2004-2006) and Offensive Coordinator (2007-2016) for the Yale University Men’s Lacrosse team. at Yale, Niemi coached eight all-Americans, four Ivy League Tournament MVP’s and 27 All Ivy League players. Before Yale, Niemi made coaching stops at University of Maryland, Loyola College and Washington College. As a player Niemi was a four-year letter winner and a two year starter for the University of Maryland.
jay Penn was a three-year starter at Johns Hopkins University on their defensive midfield unit. While at Hopkins, Jay participated in two NCAA Final Fours, and was the recipient of the ‘Gordon M.F. Stick’ Award (Unsung Hero Award) his senior year. Coach Penn grew up in the lacrosse hotbed of Long Island and played at Farmingdale High School. He was also a member of the LI Empire team, winning the Silver medal in the NY State Empire games. he was selected to coach the south team in the 2019 national under armour senior all-star game, and is coaching the 2022 UA team representing the conny region.
mike Epstein joined the Fairfield Prep Lacrosse coaching staff for the 2019 season as Offensive Coordinator. Coach Epstein spent 18 years as the Head Coach at BriEn McMahon HS where he went 192-135 and won the state championship in 2000. The 1985 Norwalk HS graduate was a US Lacrosse High School All American before playing collegiately at University of Vermont. Coach Epstein has also spent time coaching for Fairfield Youth Lacrosse. He is currently teaching at BriEn McMahon High School.
Coach Carney is currently the assistant athletic director at the ridgefield academy and also serves as a physical education teacher at the school. He previously held coaching posts at ridgefield, immaculate and weston hs and was named ciac coach of the year in 2008. coach carney is a graduate of eastern connecticut state university, where he played for the legendary d3 coach ric mccarthy. while at eastern, he helped the team to two straight regular season and league titles.
Coach vallance is a former penn state goalie and spent 11 years as a college assistant including five seasons at fairfield university and four seasons at bellarmine university. He joined the fairfield prep lacrosse staff in 2017 as the defensive coordinator and goalie coach. coach vallance has also served as director of lacrosse at house of sports and chelsea piers. he is currently a history teacher at fairfield prep.
A noted coach within the Div. I ranks, coach Doctor was hired as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart as the offensive coordinator, in 2020. He is currently the assistant coach for the Haudenosaunee Nationals and will help lead the team in their quest for a gold medal in the 2023 world lacrosse championships in june. Prior to his current roles, Doctor spent seven seasons as an assistant coach/offensive assistant at Penn State University (2010-17). While with the Nittany Lions, Doctor led the face-off unit and goaltending corps, as well as running the extra-man offense. He helped lead Penn State to Colonial Athletic Association tournament appearances in 2011, 2012 and 2013 prior to the Big Ten's formation wherein he helped lead the Nittany Lions to conference tournament showings in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Tom Mariano just completed his 9th season as the Head Lacrosse Lacrosse Coach at Pace University. Coach Mariano has been involved in college and professional lacrosse for 25 years. Before Pace, Coach Mariano was Head Coach at Sacred Heart University for 17 seasons where he helped transition the program from DII to Division I NCAA status. Tom has also been both a General Manager and Head Coach at the professional levels with the Ohio Machine, Chesapeake Bayhawks and the Florida Launch. Coach Mariano's focus will be with the Junior Cavalry while also teaching Academy Classes across all positions.
Coach hulme was a four year starter at colgate university and was twice named a usila all-american. he was named the patriot league defensive player of the year and first-team all-patriot league. coach hulme brings 12 years of college coaching experience, including posts at holy cross, vermont and fairfield. following his college career, he was drafted 16th overall in the 2007 mll draft, and spent his pro career playing for the san fransisco dragons and boston cannons.
in 2023, coach Murray completed his first season as the Assistant Coach at post university. prior to joining post, he lived in Napa, CA where he served as head coach for Justin-Siena High School. In 2019, the team reached its first league final, won its first ever state playoff game, and reached the North Coast Section Division 2 semifinals. In 2022, the team finished with an 18-2 record and won its first Vine Valley Athletic League Title and reached the NCS D2 Finals. Murray was also named Coach of the Year in 2018. While in California, Murray was also a coach and director with 101 Lacrosse, ADVNC Lacrosse and the West Coast Showdown.
Coach Mulligan grew up in Farmingdale, NY and was a 4-year varsity player, 3-year starter, on one of the top HS teams in the country. He went on to play for Syracuse University and was a 2x captain, 3-year starter and 2x All-American. He made appearances in 3 National Championship games, and he helped the Orangemen win a title in 2000. Following Syracuse, Coach Mulligan was a 2001 first-round draft pick of the Long Island Lizards playing several years professionally and winning an MLL championship during his time with the team. He has been coaching for over 20 years at multiple levels, including stops at Fairfield University, FYL and Lonewolf Lacrosse.
Coach Pierandri was a 4-year defensive starter at Washington College. He
served as team captain his senior year and helped lead the Shoremen to two consecutive
Centennial Conference and NCAA tournament appearances. Prior to Washington College, he
helped lead the Ridgefield Tigers to their first ever FCIAC championship. Coach Pierandri has multiple years of experience coaching club lacrosse at different age levels and works with the Approach Academy leading defensive clinics.
Coach Cozens played midfield at Springfield College and helped the Pride to 4 straight NEWMAC Championships and NCAA Tournament Appearances. Before his time at Springfield, Coach Cozens played for Ridgefield High School and was a member of their 2011 State Championship team. He has coached for multiple programs, including Ridgefield Youth Lacrosse and Team Superstar.
Coach Schutz is a two-year starter at the University of Virginia and is currently a Jr. at the University. In HS, he was a four-time varsity letter recipient at Deerfield Academy and was ranked the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse’s Power 100 Incoming Freshmen. As a freshman at the University of Virginia, he appeared in all 16 games, including 15 starts, primarily as an offensive midfielder. He finished his freshman year at UVA fifth on the team with 23 goals, good for No. 2 all-time on UVA’s freshman midfielders list.
Coach Wallace is the current defensive coordinator at Newtown High School, where he graduated from in 2017, after helping the team to two SWC championships. He went on to be a three-year starter and captain at Norwich University, where he won a GNAC championship and made an NCAA tournament appearance. He was twice selected to the all conference team and holds the school’s single season caused turnover record.
Coach Ricca played defense at Western Connecticut State University. Before his time at Western Connecticut, he played for Branford High School. Coach Ricca has multiple years of experience coaching youth lacrosse at different age levels. His coaching experience includes: Ridgefield Youth Lacrosse, Stamford Youth Lacrosse, Upper St. Clair Youth Lacrosse, Milford Youth Lacrosse, and Fairfield Youth Lacrosse.
