Bates College Director of Athletics Jason Fein announced the appointment of Dan Annino as the fourth head coach of the Bobcat men's lacrosse program, effective July 5, 2022.
"For the first time in 22 years, the Bobcats have a new head coach of men's lacrosse, and I couldn't be more thrilled to announce that Dan Annino will join us this summer in that role," Fein said. "Dan brings the knowledge, the passion, and the respect for the game and the young men that endeavor to compete at the highest level of athletics and academics. His knowledge of the game, his vision around team culture and respect, as well as his extensive research and planning specifically around how he plans to lead the Bates program impressed everyone that he met with during the process and I'm thrilled that he accepted our invitation to join the Bates community."
"I'm so thankful to Director of Athletics Jason Fein, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Celine Cunningham, and the entire search committee for the opportunity," Annino said. "I'm honored to be able to serve this program and their passionate alumni, and I'm excited to start working with the young men on this team."
Annino joined head coach Peter Milliman's staff at Johns Hopkins University in June of 2020. He came to the Blue Jays after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Amherst College. In Annino's role at Johns Hopkins, he worked closely with the Blue Jay defense.
During his first season, Annino helped Johns Hopkins to its third consecutive appearance in the Big Ten Championship game, where the Blue Jays narrowly fell to top-ranked Maryland. Annino was instrumental in the growth of an entirely remade defensive unit that spearheaded JHU's run to the Big Ten title game. The group was at its best during the team's three games against third-seeded Penn State, second-seeded Rutgers and top-seeded Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament. In six combined games against those teams during the regular season, the Blue Jays allowed an average of 13.5 goals per game; during the three-game run in the tournament, Hopkins cut that number down to 9.7 (29 goals in three games).
"Coaching at such a storied program in Johns Hopkins was a special experience," Annino said. "Working closely with Head Coach Peter Milliman and Defensive Coordinator Jamison Koesterer was a deep dive into the highest level of tactics, strategy and program building. Competing against the best teams and players in the country was a tremendous opportunity to refine my abilities as a coach and leader."
Annino has also served as an assistant coach with the U16 Haudenosaunee Nationals Development Team, which competed in the 2021 Brogden Cup against Team USA and Team Ontario.
"Lacrosse is interwoven into the Haudenosaunee culture and it's more than just a game, it's more than just sport," Annino said. "It truly is their 'medicine game' and is so integral to the fabric of their community. It's looked at as an honor to be able to play lacrosse for the Creator and just hearing some of the young men on that team and some of the families and other coaches talking about the game, and how connected they are on a deeper level, has really meant a lot."
At Amherst, Annino helped the Mammoths to a three-year record of 36-9. Amherst posted a 15-4 mark and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in his first season as an assistant coach (2018) before finishing the 2019 season with an 18-4 record and the program's first appearance in the national championship game. The Mammoths were 3-1 and ranked seventh in the nation when the 2020 season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Annino was the architect of a Mammoth defense that held the opposition to nine goals or less 20 times under his direction and reduced its goals against average by more than two goals per game from the season before he joined the staff. For his efforts during Amherst's 2019 run to the national title game, Annino was the recipient of the IMLCA's Mike Clear Sr. Award as the Division III Assistant Coach of the Year.
A four-year regular and three-year starter on defense during his career at Amherst, Annino earned New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-New England honors as a senior and totaled 76 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers during his career.
As a player, Annino helped lead an Amherst defense that posted a combined 10.34 goals against average during his career while the Mammoths rang up an impressive 52-23 record during that time. The team advanced to the NESCAC title game in 2014 and 2015, appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times (2014-2016) and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2015 and 2016.
Annino graduated from Amherst in 2016 with a degree in economics.
"I know from my experience playing and coaching in the NESCAC that it's the most competitive conference in our sport," Annino said. "Bates is an institution that attracts some of the most talented, most passionate, most well-rounded student-athletes in the world, and where everyone is driven to excel in every facet of their lives. Every recruiting cycle, we have a four-year opportunity to make a 40-year impact, and that's going to start with the kind of culture that we build and the way that we develop our young men as leaders."
What they are saying about Dan Annino
"While we are disappointed that Dan will be moving on from Johns Hopkins, I am thrilled to see that he has been selected as the next men's lacrosse coach at Bates. From his time at Amherst and including his two years at Johns Hopkins, he has prepared himself well for this moment; his understanding of the demands on student-athletes at high-level academic institutions, knowledge of the game, attention to detail and strong work ethic make him the ideal person to lead the Bates program. He and his student-athletes will be exceptional representatives of the College on and off the field and in the community." -- Jennifer S. Baker, Director of Athletics, Johns Hopkins University.
"We could not be prouder or more excited for Dan as he steps into a head coaching position at Bates College. Dan is an extremely hard working, bright, and passionate coach who gives everything he has to his team. I know the young men of Bates lacrosse are going to flourish under his leadership and we will enjoy supporting and watching his success from Johns Hopkins." -- Peter Milliman, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach, Johns Hopkins University.
"Dan is one of the bright young minds in lacrosse and brings an understanding of how this unique sport can help develop young men to succeed in life. His desire to connect to the true roots of the game made him an excellent choice to include in our youth development program and we hope for a long and continued relationship." -- Brian Wong, Lacrosse Operations, Iroquois Nationals Men. Executive Board, Haudenosaunee Nationals Development Group.
"Coach Annino impressed me from the moment he stepped on campus. His natural leadership and commitment to developing and building connections with the players made him stand out. I'm excited to see where Coach Annino takes the program, and I know he can help us get back to the NESCAC and national powerhouse that Bates lacrosse was just a few years ago." -- Alex Horowitz '24, Bates men's lacrosse attacker and a member of the search committee.
"Dan's track record and resume was impressive from the start. After talking to him it was also apparent he will bring an energy and attention to detail that will jumpstart this program. His emphasis on leadership and accountability will help every player reach their potential and ultimately the team as a whole. I believe he will be a program changer for years to come." -- Jackson Williams '23, Bates men's lacrosse face-off specialist and a member of the search committee.
