The Mercer County Community College Athletics Department is launching a new men’s lacrosse program, and they’ve tapped former Hopewell Valley Central High School head coach Robert Siris to lead it.
According to athletics director John Simone, the first phase for the new program will be player recruitment, which Siris will oversee during the 2017-18 academic year.
“There has been huge growth in lacrosse at the high school level, but not as many programs available at the college level,” Simone said. “We believe there is a strong interest in the region among lacrosse players and we are happy that Mercer will be providing this new opportunity for area athletes.”
Siris says that depending on the number of students who are already enrolled at Mercer and are interested in joining the team, the Vikings may have a practice season in Spring 2018. The first full season for this new intercollegiate team will be Spring 2019.
Siris comes to Mercer with a strong lacrosse resume. A social studies teacher at HVCHS, Siris was head coach for boys lacrosse since joining the teaching staff there in 2003. During his tenure, he more than doubled participation on the team, compiling 162 wins, five conference championships, and two Mercer County championships. He was named Coach of the Year four times.
Prior to coaching at Hopewell, Siris was the assistant boys lacrosse coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy and was honored as the Waterman Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003. He is the current U.S. Lacrosse Central New Jersey chairman and also works with club teams, camps and clinics throughout the tri-state area.
“My goal is to help each and every player advance his lacrosse skills and achieve his academic goals, especially students who seek to transfer to four-year colleges to continue playing lacrosse,” Siris said.
Current or prospective MCCC students interested in playing men’s lacrosse should call the MCCC Athletics Office at (609) 570-3742, email simonej@mccc.edu or visit the MCCC lacrosse page on Facebook.
