WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Tewaaraton Foundation has named former Cornell University men’s lacrosse coach Richie Moran as the recipient of the 2012 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award. Moran will be honored at the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony May 31, 2012, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
The Spirit of Tewaaraton award is presented to an individual involved in the sport of lacrosse, who nobly reflects the virtues of the Tewaaraton Award and its mission, and who, over the course of his or her life, has made a significant contribution to society and the lives of others. Past recipients include Dick Edell, Diane Geppi-Aikens, Sid Jamieson, A.B. “Buzzy” Krongard and Roy Simmons Jr.
"Coach Moran exemplifies the true spirit of the game, both on and off the playing field. His lifelong dedication to his players extends beyond the field and beyond their years at Cornell. He played an instrumental role in the early years of the Tewaaraton Award and is a worthy selection as the sixth recipient of the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award,” said Jeff Harvey, chairman of The Tewaaraton Foundation.
Moran's coaching career began in 1961 as head coach at Manhasset High School, where his teams claimed the Long Island Championship from 1962 to 1964. In 1966, Moran became the first lacrosse coach at Elmont Memorial High School and won two league championships in two seasons. He was also the head coach of the Long Island Athletic Club from 1966–1968, capturing the 1968 Club Championship, the first-ever United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA) club title won by a northern team.
In 1969, he was named head men's lacrosse coach at Cornell University and went on to lead the Big Red for 29 seasons, winning three NCAA Division I national championships (1971, 1976, 1977). His teams won 15 Ivy League championships, including ten straight from 1974 to 1983, and turned in three national runner-up performances. Moran also set an NCAA record as he guided his teams to 42 consecutive victories from 1976–78 and an Ivy League record 39 straight conference wins from 1973-79.
During his tenure with the Big Red, Moran was named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coach of the Year three times (1971, 1977, 1987) and, in 1975, earned the USILA Man of the Year award. He served as head coach of Team USA in the 1978 World Lacrosse Championship. He currently serves as president of the Irish Lacrosse Foundation and coached Team Ireland in the World Lacrosse Championships in 2002 and 2006.
As a player, Moran was a key performer on the 1959 University of Maryland national championship team.
Moran has been honored with induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Manhasset, Long Island Hall of Fame, the Upstate New York Hall of Fame and the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
“We are honored to present Coach Moran with this well-deserved recognition of his commitment to the sport of lacrosse for over half a century,” said Sarah Aschenbach, executive director of The Tewaaraton Foundation. “His love and respect of the game, its players and its traditions are second to none. He is a role model for coaches everywhere.”
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