BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Zach Iannucci has been hired to be the first men's lacrosse coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, IWU athletic director Dennie Bridges announced today.In September, Illinois Wesleyan announced the addition of intercollegiate lacrosse with a men's team opening competition in the spring of 2014 and a women's lacrosse team to be added in the spring of 2015.
“My vision for Titan lacrosse is to compete at the highest level while providing student-athletes with a positive, challenging and rewarding environment that promotes and supports their success both on and off the field,” Iannucci said.
The 25-year-old Iannucci comes to Illinois Wesleyan from being an assistant at Oberlin College (Ohio), where he spent the 2012 season as defensive coordinator for the Yeomen men's lacrosse team. He also assisted with recruiting and scouting.
“The immediate focus is to recruit strong academically strong, high-character student-athletes with the athletic ability to make significant contributions to the University and the lacrosse program,” said Iannucci.
In 2011 Iannucci was the defensive coordinator at Hendrix College (Ark.), where his efforts helped the Warriors set school records in wins, goals against, shots against and face-off percentage.
A 2010 graduate of Saint Joseph's University (Pa.) with a degree in finance, Iannucci earned a spot on the Hawks' varsity roster as a senior walk-on. Playing as a long-stick midfielder, he competed in club lacrosse for Saint Joseph's from 2007 to 2009.
A native of Mount Laurel, N.J., he attended Lenape Regional High School where he was a three-time all-conference player, two-time team captain and was the school's first four-year lacrosse letterman. He was an all-South Jersey selection and was nominated for high school All-American as a junior.
Iannucci began his coaching career as an assistant at Lenape High School in 2008, helping his former prep team win its first conference title while instructing the state's sixth-best defense.