FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Tuesday, June 25, 2002)

RICK McCARTHY TO JOIN WESLEYAN MEN'S LACROSSE STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH

Rick McCarthy, head coach of Eastern Connecticut State University's highly successful men's lacrosse team since its inception as a varsity team in 1996 through the 2002 season, will join the Wesleyan men's lacrosse coaching staff as a part-time assistant for the 2003 season, head coach John Raba announced.

Leading the Warriors to post season berths each of the last four seasons, including two ECAC New England Division III playoff berths in 1999 and 2000 and two straight NCAA Division III tournament at-large qualifications as champions of the Little East conference in 2001 and 2002, McCarthy began his lacrosse coaching career at Babson College in 1975. There he compiled a 34-13 mark in four years and took the Beavers to an NCAA Division II tournament appearance in 1979. He has been involved in coaching for 34 years since his graduation from Yale University in 1968, handling mostly lacrosse and ice hockey, but also basketball and football at various levels of activity throughout southern New England. In his seven seasons as Eastern's head lacrosse coach, McCarthy posted a lofty 91-19 record, including a 4-2 mark against Wesleyan.

McCarthy was a three-time conference coach of the year while at Eastern, and served as co-coach of the North squad at the 2002 STX/USILA North-South Division III senior all-star game, the showcase of Division III talent in the nation. He had coached in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) East-West senior all-star game in 1996, served as president of that organization this past year as well as a member of the Division III men's lacrosse national poll committee, the weekly NEILA rating board, the ECAC Division III men's lacrosse advisory board and the USILA All-America advisory board.

McCarthy will continue in his full-time position as an administrator with Eastern's admissions office.

-30-