W&L NAMES MIKE CERINO HEAD MEN'S LACROSSE COACH
Cerino Won A Division II National Championship at Limestone College

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee athletic director Mike Walsh has announced the appointment of Mike Cerino as head men's lacrosse coach. Cerino comes to W&L after serving as the head boys lacrosse coach at The Charlotte Latin School in North Carolina. He will begin his duties the first week of December.

"It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce Mike Cerino as the men's lacrosse coach at Washington and Lee University," said Walsh. "Mike is a seasoned coach who has experienced success during his coaching career. His involvement in the sport of lacrosse is at the highest level. Mike is known as an excellent teacher and motivator and we look forward to having him direct the fortunes of our men's lacrosse program. I know that he is eager to begin his work with our lacrosse players."

"Washington and Lee is one of those special college lacrosse situations that I really want to be a part of," said Cerino. "They have an excellent lacrosse tradition and Coach Stagnitta has maintained the program at the top of Division III for over a decade. I'm very pleased about taking the reins and adding another chapter to its storied history."

Cerino coached at Charlotte Latin for one year following a tremendous 11-year run at Limestone College. He was hired at Limestone in 1989 and founded the men's lacrosse program there in 1990. Cerino built the Saints' lacrosse program from the ground up, posting an 80-55 overall record and winning the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship. In addition, he guided Limestone to three Deep South Conference Championships and coached 28 All-American players.

Twice Cerino earned the Jim "Ace" Adams National Sportsmanship Award and he was named Street & Smith's College Lacrosse USA's Division II Coach of the Year following the 2000 season. He also earned the Deep South Conference Coach of the Year award following the 1994 and 1998 seasons.

Active in the sport, Cerino has served on the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Committee (1997-00), the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules Committee (1997-00), the USILA Division II All-America Committee (1994-00) and the USILA Division II Ranking Committee (1993-00).

Cerino holds a bachelor's degree from Pfeiffer University (1988) and a master's degree from Gardner Webb University (1996).

Washington and Lee finished the 2001 season with a 14-1 overall record, 5-1 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Generals were ranked third in the final USILA Division III poll.

-- GENERALS --