Florida Tech Panthers

Dowling '99 (46-53; 7 seasons)
2013 Deep South Conference Coach of the Year
Three All-Americans | 14 All-SSC First Team | 11 All-SSC Second Team | Two All-SSC Honorable Mention | Nine All-SSC Freshman Team | One All-DSC First Team Midfielder | One All-DSC Second Team Goalie | One All-DSC Honorable Mention

Ryan McAleavey enters his eighth season as the head coach of the men's lacrosse program at Florida Tech in 2018-19.

Florida Tech went 9-6 overall and 6-1 in SSC play in 2018. The Crimson & Gray reached as high as No. 9 in the nation in the Nike/US Lacrosse Poll and No. 13 in the USILA Coaches Poll. The 2018 season started very similar to the 2017 as the Panthers opened the campaign 1-4 before rattling off a school-record eight straight wins over the final nine games of the regular season. FIT took down No. 5 Tampa and No. 10 Mount Olive in consecutive one-goal victories during the streak and jumped out to a 6-0 mark in the league play, becoming the first team in SSC men's lacrosse history to reach six conference wins. The Panthers made their third appearance in the SSC Tournament but fell to Tampa in the semifinals. Eight student-athletes were named to the All-SSC squads following the season, including two on the first team, four on the second team and two on the freshman team. Logan Sweeney became the third player in program history to be tabbed an All-American, earning USILA All-American Honorable Mention honors.

McAleavey led Florida Tech to an 8-7 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the SSC in 2017. Following a 1-4 start to the season, the Panthers won six of their final eight regular season games and earned their second ever appearance in the SSC Men's Lacrosse Tournament. FIT picked up its first-ever victory over a Top-5 program this season, taking down Seton Hill, 5-3. Florida Tech defeated Lynn, 13-6, in the semifinals to reach their second league championship game in three seasons where the Panthers fell to Tampa, 12-8. Nine players from the 2017 squad were named to the All-SSC Teams, including five on the first team, two on the second team and two on the freshman team. Addison Abramson and Grant Hughes became the first student-athletes in program history to be named All-Americans. Abramson was a USILA/Nike Third Team All-American while Hughes earned honorable mention honors. Hughes then became the first Panther to be selected in the MLL Draft, taken in the 10th round with the 82nd pick by the Florida Launch.  

In 2016, McAleavey led a injury-plagued and inexperienced Panther squad to a 6-7 record, including a 1-4 mark in the SSC. Highlighting the season was a 12-11 come-from-behind, overtime victory over Wheeling Jesuit at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field. The Panthers also earned a key 13-11 victory over No. 19 Saint Leo on Apr. 1 at Florida Tech Panther Stadium. FIT had five student-athletes receive All-SSC honors: Brian Bacarella and Tom Filipow were named to the first team, while Tyler Covey and Addison Abramson were selected to the All-Freshman Team; Travis Wunder rounded out the pack with an All-SSC Honorable Mention selection.

It was a season of firsts for the Florida Tech men's lacrosse program in 2015. McAleavey guided the Panthers to their best result in team history, finishing with a school-record 12 wins and just four losses, the program's first winning season. Florida Tech secured its first and second ever victories over ranked opponents, defeating then No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne 13-12 on Feb. 14 and then No. 15 Wheeling Jesuit 12-9 on March 9. Following the win over Lenoir-Rhyne, the Panthers received the program's first nod in the national polls, moving in at No. 15 in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Division II Rankings on Feb. 16. FIT reached its highest ranking of No. 12 in both the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches polls on March 16.

Florida Tech finished with a 3-2 record against Sunshine State Conference opponents to claim the No. 2 seed in the 2015 Sunshine State Conference Championships. McAleavey's squad avenged a regular-season loss to Rollins College by beating the Tars 12-6 in the semifinal round of the conference tournament to advance to the championship game, and a rematch with Tampa.

FIT had seven all-conference selections in 2015, including a league-best four First-Team honorees. Sophomore Travis Wunder secured a seat on the first team after leading the SSC, and setting single-season records, in faceoff wins (224), faceoff win percentage (.624), and ground balls (107). The Panthers' fourth leading scorer, junior Nick Wynne, earned a first team bid after registering 19 goals, 19 assists and 35 groundballs from the midfield. Also making the first team was senior Jordan Carlock, who led the conference, and was second in the nation, with 51 caused turnovers while also snagging 52 ground balls. Joining his teammates on the first team was senior Eric Biller who, after redshirting the 2014 season due to injury, led FIT to 12 wins while finishing second in the SSC in goals-against per game (8.82), save percentage (.551) and saves (158).

McAleavey's team led the SSC in groundballs (596), man-up goals (32), penalty-killing percentage (.750) and caused turnovers (138). The Panthers finished in the top 10 nationally in winning percentage (.750), man-down defense (.776), faceoff winning percentage (.610) and ground balls per game (37.25).

In his third season at Florida Tech, McAleavey guided the Panthers to a 1-4 record in the inaugural Sunshine State Conference season in 2013-14. With 19 newcomers, Florida Tech set new records in points, assists, faceoff wins, faceoff percentage, ground balls and caused turnovers.

After the season, freshmen CJ Nichols, Charlie Morrisette and Mike Cherry were named to the All-SSC Freshman Team, while Nichols earned All-SSC First Team honors after recording 22 goals and 15 assists. Cherry's 12 forced turnovers also earned the Pa. native All-SSC Second Team honors, along with sophomore transfer Nick Wynne. Wynne scored 22 goals and All-SSC Honorable Mention faceoff specialist Travis Wunder set single season records in ground balls, faceoff wins and faceoff percentage, winning 131 faceoffs and registering 64 ground balls.

Florida Tech's 33 points, 19 goals and 14 assists versus Lynn University were single game school records and the Panthers coasted to a 19-5 win, the first ever SSC win for FIT.

In just his second season at Florida Tech, McAleavey was named Deep South Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the second year of the program. McAleavey led the Panthers to a 6-8 record in 2013 after Florida Tech went 2-12 during its inaugural season in 2012.

McAleavey’s young squad began the 2013 season 2-0 after earning its first two DSC wins in program history over conference favorite Saint Leo and Rollins. The Panthers then improved to 4-2 over the first six games of the season, doubling their first season’s win total.

The Panthers led the DSC in man-up goals (27) and man-up conversion percentage (.397) in their second season in the conference. For most of the season, McAleavey’s squad led the conference in ground balls before finishing third with 495 total ground balls in 14 games.

Under McAleavey’s watch, sophomore Andrew Conley was named All-DSC First Team Midfielder and junior Eric Biller was named All-DSC Second Team Goalie.

McAleavey was named the institution’s first men’s lacrosse head coach on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 and the inaugural game took place on Feb. 14, 2012 versus Saint Leo University.

McAleavey came to Melbourne with a wealth of lacrosse experience at the professional, college and high school levels.  Most recently, he served as the boys head coach at Red Bank Regional High School.  In New Jersey, McAleavey inherited a young and largely inexperienced team.  Tasked with aiding in the development of student-athletes, he guided them to a top four finish in their division after being picked to place last in the preseason poll.Prior to working with the Bucs, McAleavey roamed the sidelines at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, N.J.  After inheriting a team that was unable to tally a win the season prior to his arrival, he built a respectable squad, leading them to five victories on the playing field.

McAleavey served as the associate head coach/offensive coordinator at Suffolk Community College before moving on to Vianney High School.  At Suffolk, he had the opportunity to coach a consistent top five National Junior College Athletic Association lacrosse program.  Two of his teams were region runner-ups and his 2006 club not only won its region, but advanced to the NJCAA National Championship. 

For the Longhorns, he handled a wide variety of tasks, including the implementation of offensive game plans, scouting, fundraising, scheduling, budget management and developing an offseason conditioning program. 

The Brentwood, N.Y. native has experience in developing a program from his time at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield, Conn.  As the institution’s first head lacrosse coach, he was responsible for all aspects of starting the program, from scheduling games to recruiting student-athletes.  In each of his three years at Notre Dame Catholic, his teams consistently improved.  By year three, the squad fielded 30-35 varsity players and it qualified for the high school’s Division II playoffs.  

Before he embarked on his coaching career, McAleavey was a standout attackman at Dowling College, pacing the team in goals all four years.  Following a junior campaign where he scored 60 goals and dished out 15 assists, he garnered United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II All-America Honorable Mention honors.  Although his collegiate career concluded in 1999, McAleavey still holds school records for goals and points in a single-season and career.

Following his collegiate career, McAleavey inked a free agent contract with the New Jersey Pride.  Shortly after signing, he was asked to join the coaching staff as an assistant.  With one season of coaching experience under his belt, he still had a strong desire to play.  In 2004, he was selected by the Pride in the ninth round of the 2004 Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft. 

Even though his career was cut short due to injury, he remained on the team as an assistant.  In that role, he scouted possible draft picks, broke down game film, implemented practice workouts, assisted the head coach with game day management and helped with marketing events and appearances.

McAleavey received a bachelor’s of arts degree in professional and liberal studies from Dowling College in 1999.  Before earning a master’s degree in special education and general education at Touro College, he occupied the graduate assistant men’s lacrosse position at Dowling.  As a Golden Lion, he dealt with all phases of the program, including recruiting, player evaluation, planning practices, offseason conditioning, alumni relations, fundraising and scheduling.

McAleavey holds a teacher’s certificate in New Jersey and is certified in CPR, first aid and safety.  In February, he married the former Angela Burgo from Lincroft, N.J.

Year-by-Year Coaching Record

Career Record - 29-40 (five seasons)
Record at Florida Tech- 29-40 (five seasons)