Adelphi University Athletics

On July 18, 2007, Gordon Purdie was named the sixth head men’s lacrosse coach in Adelphi University history, replacing Sandy Kapatos.

The 2026 season marks his 19th year as head coach, leading the team for which he once starred.

In nearly two decades at the helm of the Panthers, Purdie has led the squad to five Northeast-10 Tournament titles, nine NCAA Tournament berths, three Final Fours, the 2011 NCAA Division II National title game and most recently went back to back as the D2 National Champions in 2024 and 2025. He is a two-time NE10 Coach of the Year and was named the USILA Coach of the Year in 2024 alongside being named the recipient of the FCA Peter Kohn Service Award. 

Purdie has coached dozens of All-Conference honorees in both the East Coast Conference and the Northeast-10 and over four dozen United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-Americans in his tenure in Garden City. 

He surpassed Hall of Famer Paul "Doc" Doherty for the program's all-time winningest coach on April 15, 2023, who amassed 184 wins at the helm of the program from 1970-91. On March 15, 2016, Purdie earned his 100th career win at Adelphi with an 18-8 win at Assumption College, and he passed the man who preceded him, Kapatos, in career victories with his 111th on March 8, 2017, also over Assumption by a 14-4 final.

Purdie, a member of the Australian World Games team before arriving at Adelphi, made his mark as a two-time All-America selection. He played three years for the Panthers, from 1987-89, helping the team to two NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. He appears in numerous Adelphi DI records, including first in single-season ground balls (109) and second in career ground balls (269). He also appears in the top 10 in single-season and career assists and points.

His post-collegiate career included playing seven times for the Australian Lacrosse World team. He also played for the New York Saints (1990-99), New Jersey Storm (2002-03) and the Anaheim Storm (2004), playing in over 100 professional indoor lacrosse games. In 1994 he was named Best Midfielder at the World Games.

He twice appeared in the ILF World Championships (2003, 2007) and was inducted into the Adelphi Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Purdie has coached at the Waldorf School in Garden City, N.Y. since 1994, has coached numerous All-Americans and Academic All-Americans and in 1997, was named the New York Metropolitan Lacrosse Association High School Coach of the Year.

Purdie currently resides with his wife Carol and son Gordon in East Rockaway, N.Y.

Purdie’s Year-by-Year Coaching Record
5 NE10 Titles; 9 NCAA Appearances
 

Year	-Overall-		-Conference-	-Notes-
	W-L	Pct.	W-L
2008	7-5	.583	3-3 ECC
2009	3-8	.272	1-4 ECC
2010	10-5	.667	7-3 NE10	NE10 Semifinalists
2011	16-3	.842	9-1 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA National Finalists
2012	13-3	.813	8-2 NE10	NE10 Semifinalists
2013	14-3	.824	10-1 NE10	NE10 Finalists; NCAA Final Four
2014	17-2	.895	11-0 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA Final Four
2015	15-3	.833	9-2 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA First Round
2016	12-5	.706	9-2 NE10	NE10 Semifinals
2017	15-4	.789	10-1 NE10	NE10 Finalists; NCAA Final Four
2018	11-4	.733	9-2 NE10	NE10 Semifinals
2019	16-3	.842	10-1 NE10	NE10 Finalists; NCAA Quarterfinalists
2020	1-2	.333	1-0 NE10	Season shortened due to COVID-19
2021	7-3	.700	6-1 NE10	Season minimized due to COVID-19
2022	15-2	.882	10-0 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA Quarterfinalists
2023	16-4	.800	8-2 NE10	NE10 Semifinals; NCAA Quarterfinals
2024	17-2	.895	9-0 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA Division II Champions
2025	19-1	.950	7-1 NE10	NE10 Champions; NCAA Division II Champions
18 Seasons	224-62	.783	140-26 NE10

 
In Division II record books - 

• Top-15 for all-time D2 winningest coach (15th) - .771
• Top-2 for winningest active D2 coach (2nd) - .771
• top-10 for winningest active coach (all divisions) - 6th - .771