Jim Townsend Returns as Head Men's Coach at RPI

[Sonny]

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) director of athletics Ken Ralph has announced the hiring of Jim Townsend as head men's lacrosse coach. Townsend, who was RPI's head coach from 1993 to 2002, spent the last four years at McDaniel College in Maryland.

"We are thrilled to have Jim back at Rensselaer," said Ralph. "He had a great deal of success here during his first tenure and we fully expect that to continue during his second."

"My family and I are extremely excited to be coming back to RPI," Townsend said. "I look forward to working with the very special student-athletes at Rensselaer. I would like to thank Ken Ralph and the administration for the opportunity to come back."

A native of Corning, N.Y., Townsend posted an 80-54 (.597) record in his first stint with the Red Hawks. In that span, he led the team to eight post-season appearances (1994-2001), including the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament invitation in 2000. The following season, he led Rensselaer to the national quarterfinals, the farthest into post-season the program has gone since winning the 1952 NCAA National Championship. RPI also played in six ECAC Tournaments, winning the event twice (1997, 1999).

In addition, Townsend led Rensselaer to four Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) titles (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001). He earned the league's Coach of the Year award three times (1996, 1998, 2000), posting perfect records (5-0) in each of those campaigns.

Townsend also saw his players excel individually. He coached ten National All-Americans, six National Academic All-Americans, 12 North-South Game participants and four UCAA Players of the Year. In addition, several Red Hawks were among the statistical leaders nationally.

While at McDaniel, Townsend led his team to a 31-26 record with two appearances in the conference semi-finals. Five of his student-athletes garnered National All-American honors and one was a National Academic All-American - the first in the program's history.

Townsend originally came to RPI from Washington College in Chestertown, Md., where he was as assistant coach of the lacrosse team in charge of recruiting, scouting and midfield play. He also coached at the Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, Mary., leading the team to a 23-14 record in three years.

En route to earning four varsity letters at attack, Townsend led Salisbury St. University in scoring as a senior captain and was the team's Most Valuable Player in 1986. Upon graduating, he served as assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Salisbury.