Alexander "Sandy" Kapatos, is now in his 14th season as the Adelphi men's lacrosse coach. Under his direction, the Panthers have earned four NCAA Division II National Championships in six appearances.
In 2005, proved to be the fourth consecutive year that the Panthers did not take first in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC), finishing fifth overall after placing second for the previous three seasons. This was also the fourth time in four years that Adelphi, who finished 4-6 overall, did not advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Adelphi did achieve individual success in 2005. Kapatos guided two players to first-team All-America status and had two players named ECAC All-Stars in addition to Wes Green being honored as Division II Attackman of The Year by the USILA.
Over the course of his career Kapatos is 4-2 in championship games and tied with former Limestone head coach T.W. Johnson for most championships won in Division II. He also boasts a record of 16-6 in NCAA tournament games. With all four championships during a seven-year run (1993-1999) that ended with the Panthers winning back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.
Kapatos became the fifth head coach in program history in 1994 and has a career record of 102-43 (.703 winning percentage) over 12 seasons. He has developed 59 All-Americans, including national players of the year, Anthony Piccone (1998), Rob Grella (1996) and Gary Reh (1995).
Prior to his head coaching role, Kapatos served as an assistant coach at Adelphi under Kevin Sheehan from 1992-93. His primary responsibility as an assistant was working with the defense. His guidance was key for a defense that led the Panthers to the 1993 NCAA Division II national championship.
Kapatos began his coaching career at SUNY Cortland as a defensive coordinator and goalkeeper coach from 1980-81. The Red Dragons went to the NCAA Division II national championship game both years. Kapatos completed a bachelor's degree in physical education at SUNY Cortland in 1981 as well.
Following his stint at Cortland, Kapatos returned to Long Island and became the coach at Holy Trinity High School. He had a 24-12 record over three seasons leading the school to consecutive NSCLL finals.
Kapatos was named the head coach at MacArthur High School in his native Levittown in 1989. He compiled a three-year record of 24-12 and was once named the Coach of the Year.
Kapatos, an All-American in lacrosse at Division High School, attended Nassau Community College for two years before transferring to the University of Maryland. He was twice named an All-America goalkeeper at Nassau (1975-76). He was a goalkeeper for the 1977 Maryland team that recorded a third-place finish in Division I.
He currently resides in Wading River, N.Y., with his wife, Diane, and three children, Alexander, Nicholas and Kristine.
To reach Coach Kapatos:
516-877-4244
email
