Carl Festa

Carl Festa, the top assistant coach for The College of Wooster's men's lacrosse team in 2010, has been promoted to interim head coach for the 2011 season, announced Keith Beckett, the school's director of athletics, physical education, and recreation. Festa is replacing Jason Tarnow, who leaves Wooster as the program's all-time leader in coaching wins (72-51; .585) for a new career opportunity at Severn School near Annapolis, Md.

"I am very excited with the appointment of Carl as our interim head coach," stated Beckett. "Carl is very knowledgeable about lacrosse and well networked within the lacrosse community. More specifically, he is a motivated and skilled professional that will build and expand upon the many fine traditions within the program. I look forward to much excitement and achievement for the (team) under his leadership."

"Obviously, it's a great opportunity for me, being a young coach," Festa added. "The goals and expectations for the season remain the same. We want to keep the strong tradition going. I am planning to be here for quite awhile."

In his first year as an assistant, Festa helped the Fighting Scots to one of their biggest victories in team history, a 12-11 decision over then-No. 6 ranked Denison University during the first-ever night lacrosse game at Wooster's John P. Papp Stadium March 27. Overall, the Scots went 9-7 and finished tied for third in the perennially-tough North Coast Athletic Conference.

Festa, who will also continue to serve as an assistant on the football staff this fall, was a standout in both sports at St. Lawrence University. In lacrosse, the Saints won four Liberty League championships, including 32-straight conference games, and appeared in the NCAA Div. III Championships every year during Festa's time there (2006-09), and he earned all-league honors twice as a defender (second-team in both 2008 and 2009). Noteworthy, Festa played in the prestigious USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game in Boston, Mass.

Also helping with the continuity of the program is long-time assistant Steve Webster, who remains the team's director of operations. He has been part of the Wooster staff for 10 years and will provide stability during this time of transition.