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Mike McCaffrey was selected as the first head coach in Rivier men's lacrosse history. McCaffrey brings a wealth of coaching experience to Rivier, having previously headed Wheaton College in 2008, College of the Holy Cross' Division I program from 2000-04 and Division II American International College from 1993-97. He was also an assistant coach at Division III New England College in 1993.
McCaffrey has also been active beyond the realm of college coaching. In 2005, he headed the Nashua High School North boys' lacrosse team in New Hampshire during its inaugural season. McCaffrey also founded the boys' lacrosse program at Nashua's Bishop Guertin High School during the late 1980s.
At Holy Cross, which participates in the highly competitive Patriot League, 10 of McCaffrey's players were selected for the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) East-West All-Star game, and six earned NEILA Scholar-Athlete honors. His Crusaders earned 35 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll nods, and McCaffrey helped found John's Brothers, a Holy Cross-based mentoring program in the Worcester public schools that honors the memory of former captain John Price. During his first two years at Holy Cross, McCaffrey helped establish five individual team awards, including two named for late players.
McCaffrey previously spent time at American International, where he was also the men's soccer coach in addition to serving as chair of the Northeast-10 Conference's lacrosse committee and on the Division II All-America selection committee. In addition to his coaching duties, McCaffrey taught physical education for the health studies department. During his year at New England College, McCaffrey was the offensive coordinator for a lacrosse squad that won the league championship. He was also an assistant for the men's ice hockey team.
Prior to coaching at the college level, McCaffrey was a lacrosse development officer in 1991-92 for the former English Lacrosse Union, based in Manchester, England. McCaffrey was hired by the British government to teach and coach lacrosse to the country's youth. He was also responsible for coaching and instructing the English National Team in preparation for the 1994 World Lacrosse Championship.
As a player, McCaffrey helped the University of New Hampshire advance to the 1986 NCAA Tournament, and he graduated in 1988 with a degree in sports communication. A former board member of the Big Brothers Big Sister of Central Mass/Metrowest, McCaffrey is working toward a master's degree in athletic administration.
McCaffrey will also be heading the men's and women's cross
country programs at Rivier as part of his duties.
