Mike Messere

Mike Messere

Lacrosse

Enshrined: 1994

Born: 1944

Mike Messere, a U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Famer, is one of the most successful and respected high school lacrosse coaches in the nation. Messere’s devotion to the sport and the student-athletes he coaches is unparalleled. Since becoming the head coach at West Genesee, Messere has built a dynasty at his alma mater, amassing more than 700 career wins, 15 state titles and a Section III-record 29 championships.

Messere’s incredible career numbers are by-product of his innate desire to make his athletes not only good lacrosse players but upstanding individuals. A no-nonsense coach who is firm but fair, Messere was a lacrosse player himself at West Genesee. He was captain in his senior year (1962) as well as a first-team all-league defenseman. Messere continued his education at Cortland State and is a member of its Hall of Fame.

Messere has influenced thousands of players during his coaching tenure and that list includes dozens of All-Americans plus NCAA coaches John Desko of Syracuse University, Dan Sheehan of Le Moyne College, Jeff Tambroni of Cornell and Steve Beville of Cortland State.

Career highlights:

1969: Began coaching career at West Genesee High School.

1975: Founded and developed Shove Park lacrosse program.

1981-1984: Coached West Genesee High School to 91 consecutive wins, which is tied for the all-time national record

1984: Empire State Games Coach, won Gold Medal

1984: Received the Blind Men and Criers annual “John Arcaro Coaches Award” given to the high school coach who have been recognized for outstanding success in their sport.

1985: Inducted into Cortland Hall of Fame

1991: USA Today – New York (All Sports College and High School) Coach of the Year

1992: Inducted to the Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame

1993: Received the New York State Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association

1994: Inducted into the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame
.2005: Received the Syracuse Post-Standard Achievement Award

Other a wards and achievements: As a varsity coach at West Genesee, Messere closed out his 36th year of coaching the Wildcats with 15 state championships. He also won a remarkable 700 games against only 46 defeats, over 30 league championships; 14 undefeated seasons; 165 straight league wins; 29 Section III titles; 19 Regional titles. Under Messere, the Wildcats finished No. 1 in the National Rankings in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2004. He has coached over 50 Scholastic All-Americans.

*New York State Coaches Association Century Club

*Member of the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association 300 Club

*Four times "Coach of the Year" Section III (’80, ’83, ’90, ’94)

*West Genesee Yearbook Dedication - 1984

*Onondaga High School League Coaches Award 1985

*Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd" – April 15, 1985

*United States Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year 1985

	Mike Messere Lacrosse Enshrined: 1994 Born: 1944 Mike Messere, a U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Famer, is one of the most successful and respected high school lacrosse coaches in the nation. Messere’s devotion to the sport and the student-athletes he coaches is unparalleled. Since becoming the head coach at West Genesee, Messere has built a dynasty at his alma mater, amassing more than 700 career wins, 15 state titles and a Section III-record 29 championships. Messere’s incredible career numbers are by-product of his innate desire to make his athletes not only good lacrosse players but upstanding individuals. A no-nonsense coach who is firm but fair, Messere was a lacrosse player himself at West Genesee. He was captain in his senior year (1962) as well as a first-team all-league defenseman. Messere continued his education at Cortland State and is a member of its Hall of Fame. Messere has influenced thousands of players during his coaching tenure and that list includes dozens of All-Americans plus NCAA coaches John Desko of Syracuse University, Dan Sheehan of Le Moyne College, Jeff Tambroni of Cornell and Steve Beville of Cortland State. Career highlights: 1969: Began coaching career at West Genesee High School. 1975: Founded and developed Shove Park lacrosse program. 1981-1984: Coached West Genesee High School to 91 consecutive wins, which is tied for the all-time national record 1984: Empire State Games Coach, won Gold Medal 1984: Received the Blind Men and Criers annual “John Arcaro Coaches Award” given to the high school coach who have been recognized for outstanding success in their sport. 1985: Inducted into Cortland Hall of Fame 1991: USA Today – New York (All Sports College and High School) Coach of the Year 1992: Inducted to the Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame 1993: Received the New York State Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association 1994: Inducted into the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame .2005: Received the Syracuse Post-Standard Achievement Award Other a wards and achievements: As a varsity coach at West Genesee, Messere closed out his 36th year of coaching the Wildcats with 15 state championships. He also won a remarkable 700 games against only 46 defeats, over 30 league championships; 14 undefeated seasons; 165 straight league wins; 29 Section III titles; 19 Regional titles. Under Messere, the Wildcats finished No. 1 in the National Rankings in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2004. He has coached over 50 Scholastic All-Americans. New York State Coaches Association Century Club Member of the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association 300 Club Four times "Coach of the Year" Section III (’80, ’83, ’90, ’94) West Genesee Yearbook Dedication - 1984 Onondaga High School League Coaches Award 1985 Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd" – April 15, 1985 *United States Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year 1985
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