Cerino Steps Down at Limestone; Now AD
from press release
GAFFNEY, S.C. - Mike Cerino, who has guided the Limestone
College men's lacrosse program to unprecedented success in his 15
seasons as the school's head coach, will relinquish his duties as
head coach to focus all attention on the growing responsibilities
placed upon his shoulders as Director of Athletics, beginning July
1, according to an announcement Friday by College President Dr.
Walt Griffin.
The school's all-time wins leader for men's lacrosse, with 128
victories and 66 losses (.660), will look to guide the Athletic
Department forward as it takes part in a new capital campaign which
will aid in further developing the College's athletic
facilities.
"Four years ago Dr. Griffin offered me an opportunity to return to
Limestone to lead the men's lacrosse program and begin a career as
an athletics administrator. Over those four years our department
has grown to 22 intercollegiate sports programs with over 500
athletes and the need to expand our athletics facilities has become
paramount. While my lacrosse journey is coming to a close, I
anticipate the challenges of our capital campaign and reshaping our
facilities with tremendous excitement and energy," noted
Cerino.
In his first three years as Director of Athletics, Cerino has
transformed the department. Under his leadership, Limestone has
completed an NCAA institutional self-study and compliance blue
print review, conducted a gender equity review to ensure the
department's compliance with Title IX, expanded the athletic
training department in both staffing and equipment, re-branded the
athletics marks and logos, redesigned the athletics website, and
secured an exclusive and favorable buying contract with a sports
apparel company to support the various athletic programs. In
addition, Cerino secured the necessary funding to add field hockey
and men's volleyball; all while maintaining the budgetary goals of
the Athletics Department.
The 43-year-old Cerino, who founded the men's lacrosse program in
1990 and built it into a National Champion in just 11 years, steps
away from a 2010 team that went 12-2 overall and undefeated in the
South Region. The Saints reached the NCAA Division II post-season
where they fell to LeMoyne College, 11-7. Limestone men's lacrosse
has made 11 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in Division II,
which is the longest current streak and the second most all-time
appearances behind Adelphi University with 14.
Stepping away from a coaching career where he guided two elite
programs, at Limestone College and Washington and Lee University,
Coach Cerino compiled an overall record of 181-90 (.668) over 21
seasons. He led Limestone to a NCAA Division II National
Championship in 2000 and took Washington and Lee to the NCAA
Division III Semifinal in 2002. He won a total of 8 conference
championships between the two programs.
Coach Cerino was inducted into the Limestone College Hall of Fame
in the fall of 2004. He was named the Deep South Coach of the year
in 1994 and 1998 and was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference
(ODAC) Coach of the year in 2002 and 2004. Following the 2000
season, Cerino was named Street and Smith's College Lacrosse USA
Division II Coach of the Year. He is also a three-time recipient of
the Jim "Ace" Adams National Sportsmanship Award.
Coach Cerino serves on the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches
Association (IMLCA) Board of Directors and is currently serving his
second appointment to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
Committee, having completed his first term from 1997-2000,
operating as Committee Chair in 2000. He has been a member of the
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division
III All-America Committee, the USILA National Ranking Committee;
and was also selected to be a presenter at the 2000 and 2004 US
Lacrosse Clinic and at the 2006 IMLCA Clinic.
During his 21 year coaching career, Cerino also guided the
Charlotte Latin School boy's lacrosse team to an appearance in the
NCISAA 2001 State Playoffs. He has mentored 49 USILA All-Americans
and in 1996 was a coach for the South team in the 53rd Annual
Division I North/South Classic All-Star Game.
In making the announcement, President Walt Griffin noted, "In some
ways this is a sad day for Limestone College when Mike Cerino, the
founding father of our highly successful men's lacrosse program and
the coach whose team won our first National Championship, is
relinquishing his coaching duties. However, Mike has also been very
successful in his role as Athletics Director and we expect that
allowing him to focus completely on those responsibilities will be
a major benefit to Limestone College in the future."
While his presence on the field will be missed, having Coach Cerino
at the Athletic Department's helm will bring victories to Limestone
College both inside and outside the lines of play.
