Herkimer Lacrosse Legend Regy Thorpe Named Syracuse Women's Lacrosse Head Coach

Herkimer College is proud to congratulate former Generals standout Regy Thorpe on being named the head coach of the Syracuse University women's lacrosse program—one of the most prestigious positions in collegiate lacrosse and a homecoming for the Elbridge, New York native.

Thorpe's lacrosse journey began at Herkimer, where he played two standout seasons and quickly emerged as one of the top defenders in the country. A dominant force on the back line, he earned All-America honors and was named the NJCAA Defenseman of the Year in 1991. His impact on the game was later immortalized with induction into the NJCAA Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

After Herkimer, Thorpe transferred to Syracuse University, where he continued to excel. In 1992, he helped lead the Orange to a national championship. The following year, he was named a team captain and earned All-America honors once again, guiding Syracuse to its fifth NCAA title.

Thorpe went on to enjoy an exceptional professional career, playing 15 seasons with the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. He helped the franchise win league titles in 1997 and 2007, serving as captain for the latter championship run.

On the sidelines, Thorpe has developed into one of the game's premier coaching minds. He spent the past four seasons as the associate head coach at the University of Florida, helping lead the Gators to back-to-back 20-win campaigns and appearances in the NCAA national semifinals in both 2024 and 2025.

Now returning to Central New York, Thorpe takes over a Syracuse women's program with a proud tradition and national expectations.

"Regy's lacrosse résumé speaks for itself—elite as both a player and a coach," said Herkimer College Lacrosse Head Coach Bob Leary. "He has been one of the most intense, competitive leaders in the history of Herkimer Lacrosse and we're thrilled to see one of our own return to Syracuse as a head coach. His journey is a source of great pride for Herkimer and a testament to the strong foundation he helped build here."

Thorpe becomes the latest Herkimer alumnus to lead a major NCAA program and continues to inspire the next generation of student-athletes at Herkimer and beyond.

Congratulations, Coach Thorpe!