WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Jonathan Basti, formerly an assistant men's lacrosse coach at the University of Hartford, has been promoted to associate head coach as announced by head coach Peter Lawrence and Director of Athletics Pat Meiser.
“Jon has worked extremely hard to help grow the men's lacrosse program at Hartford and his promotion is very well deserved,” exclaimed Lawrence. “He is a great role model for our players and I anticipate that he will continue to make a huge impact on our student-athletes.”
Basti, who recently completed his fourth season with the Hawks, has helped lead the program to success both on the field and in the classroom. During his tenure, his responsibilities have included working with the squad's face-off specialists as well as overseeing recruiting, academics, film and the team's strength and conditioning.
In 2010 and 2011, Basti helped contribute to program history when Tim Fallon, a face-off specialist, became the fourth Hawk to earn Division I All-American accolades while becoming the first repeat men's lacrosse All-American at Hartford. The All-American distinction was the first for Hartford in more than a decade.
Under Basti's guidance, Fallon evolved into one of the country's top face-off men, taking home honorable mention in 2010 and second team honors in 2011. In addition, Fallon earned a pair of NCAA Division I statistical crowns after finishing the 2010 regular season as the nation's leader in ground balls per game (9.4) and face-off percentage (62.2 percent).
Off the field, the Hartford men's lacrosse team has excelled inside of the classroom since Basti's arrival. This season, the Hawks combined for a 3.07 grade point average, a mark that topped the America East, which includes14 America East Commissioner's Honor Roll members. In addition, the program has produced one Capital One Academic All-District honoree and seven America East All-Academic Team members.
Prior to his arrival at Hartford, Basti spent one season as the top assistant at Lafayette and the previous three years as an assistant at Fairfield University, his alma mater. At Lafayette, he served as defensive coordinator and face-off coach and was heavily involved in both recruiting and scouting. As an assistant with the Stags, Basti worked as assistant offensive coordinator and oversaw the face-off specialists. During that three-year coaching stint, Fairfield earned the Great Western Lacrosse championship in 2005 and reached what was then a program-best No. 12 national ranking in the 2007 campaign.
Basti began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University (2000-02) before serving as the head coach at Eastern Connecticut State University from 2002-04.
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