Carl Festa

After serving as the head coach of The College of Wooster's men's lacrosse team on an interim basis during the 2011 season, Carl Festa will take over the position full-time, announced Keith Beckett, the school's director of athletics, physical education, and recreation.

"I am elated with the appointment of Carl as the new head coach for men's lacrosse," Beckett stated. "During his interim year, he displayed tremendous passion in the role. He is an exceptional recruiter and a very organized and competent coach. He has the motivation and skill set to build upon the traditions of excellence within the men's lacrosse program and move it forward."

"I would like to thank the College administration for the opportunity to lead this fine program. I would also like to thank all of our loyal alumni and the current team members," commented Festa, who also served as an assistant lacrosse coach for Wooster during the 2009-10 academic year. "I am grateful for this opportunity, and eager to continue the growth of Wooster lacrosse. The future looks bright with the wealth of talent returning as well as an exceptional recruiting class coming in."

This past spring was one of transition as the Fighting Scots returned just one of their top-five scorers and one member of the starting defense from the previous season, but Festa still guided them to five victories and a fourth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Wooster showed steady improvement, going 3-3 down the stretch, including a wild 10-9 six-overtime loss to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Ohio Wesleyan University and a 6-5 double-overtime victory over Kenyon College to cap the year.

Also of note, current assistant coaches Audi Glass and Steve Webster remain on staff. "Without their support and dedication to the program, it would not be in the position that it is," added Festa.

With Festa as an assistant in 2010, Wooster went 9-7, headlined by a 12-11 triumph against then No. 6-ranked Denison University in the first-ever night lacrosse game at John P. Papp Stadium on March 27.

Festa, who was an assistant on the Scots' football staff for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, excelled 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). Festa played in the 2009 USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game in Boston, Mass.