Joe Spallina was named just the second head coach in Adelphi University women's lacrosse history in June, 2007. This season marks his fifth season as head coach.
In 2011, Spallina guided Adelphi to another record breaking championship season. Adelphi is now the only team in NCAA D-II Women's Lacrosse History to win three consecutive National Championships. The Panthers 17-4 win over Limestone in the title game was the largest margin of victory in a championship game in D-II Women's Lacrosse History. Spallina also led Adelphi to another undefeated regular season in the NE-10 and back-to-back Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Spallina collected his second consecutive NE-10 Coach of the Year honor as well. In addition to his NE-10 Coach of the Year award, Spallina was also honored as the Nassau County Sports Commission College Coach of The Year. He also produced the NE-10's Player, Goalkeeper, and Defensive Players of the Year along with 10 players on All-Conference teams. Spallina placed six players on the IWLCA All-Region and All-American teams, as well as having the MVP of the NCAA Tournament and five players on the All-Tournament team.
The 2010 season was a record breaking season for Spallina and Adelphi. The Panthers became the first team in NCAA D-II Women's Lacrosse History to win back-to-back national titles with their 17-7 win over West Chester University. Spallina guided the Panthers to a perfect 11-0 record in their first season in the Northeast-10, while finishing 19-1 overall. He also picked up his second consecutive conference Coach of the Year award. The Brown and Gold swept the NE-10 postseason honor awards with the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. Aside from the nine All-Conference players, Spallina also placed six of his players on the IWLCA All-Region team, seven to the ECAC All-Star team, six IWLCA All-Americans, the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, five on the All-Tournament team, two CoSida Academic All-District honorees, and one Collegiate Women Sports Awards Nominee.
In his second year as head coach, Spallina managed to top last year's very successful squad by recording a perfect 18-0 season, capped off with a national championship, the third in the program's history. The IWLCA and ECC Coach of the Year won the ECC Championship over cross-town rivals, C.W. Post and placed nine on the All-Conference teams while capturing the Player, Rookie and Goalie of the Year spots. Under his direction, there were six All-Region selections and two participants in the North-South game in which Spallina coached. He also had the IWLCA Goalie of the Year in Caitlin Fitzpatrick, six All-Americans, the NCAA Tournament MVP, four All-Tournament honorees as well as a CoSida Academic All-District honoree.
In just his first year, Spallina has proven he can keep Adelphi lacrosse at the top of Division II. He led the Panthers to a near perfect season with a 16-1 record. The Panthers won 16 consecutive games, including capturing the ECC Tournament, and were ranked #1 heading into the NCAA Tournament. He produced seven All-Conference players including the ECC Rookie of the Year, five IWLCA All-Region Honorees, three All-Americans, an NCAA Statistical Leader and two ECAC All-Stars.
Spallina inherits an Adelphi program that has made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four years, including two National Championships (2004, 2006). "Our goal as a program is to be a powerhouse team every season," Spallina said. "Anything short of a Division II national championship is a failure."
Spallina, a 1996 graduate of Adelphi, joins the Panther staff after a successful 10 year run as the head girl's lacrosse coach at Rocky Point High School. At Rocky Point, he led the team to five county finals, including three consecutive county titles in the last three years, compiling an impressive 87-9 overall record. Spallina, who also served as the girl's soccer coach, will continue to teach physical education for Rocky Point.
Spallina attended Adelphi from 1992-96 and earned a B.A. in physical education. He was a four-year starter on the men's lacrosse team. During his four seasons as a midfielder for the Panthers, he helped the team to a 38-14 overall record and two National Championships in 1993 and 1995. Spallina also lettered two years on the men's soccer team.
A graduate of Rocky Point High School, Spallina was an all-conference selection and team captain in lacrosse. He also played soccer, being named to the all-county and all-league teams.
Spallina resides in Rocky Point with his wife, Marybeth, and their four children.
