DU Stuns Lacrosse World By Signing Tierney

(above) Coach Tierney will bring East Coast Lax to the Rockies

With the University of Denver lacrosse program seemingly in shambles after last season, DU rocked the lax community by signing legendary coach Bill Tierney to the largest contract in Division I Lacrosse. ESPN reported that Tierney will make $250,000 per season to resurrect the Pioneers and guide them into the future. In 2009 DU suffered player expulsions, an insurrection and ultimately the firing of coach Jamie Munro.

Tierney molded Princeton University into a lacrosse power while winning six NCAA championships and 14 Ivy League titles. Princeton hadn't won an Ivy League title in the 20 years before Tierney took over in 1987. In his 22 seasons, his Princeton teams won NCAA titles in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2001, four of them in overtime.

"I don't leave Princeton unfulfilled, unhappy or disappointed in any way," Tierney said. "I leave Princeton for an opportunity that I never thought would come my way."

Tierney compiled a 238-86 record at Princeton and went 13-3 this season.

Tierney guided Princeton to eight NCAA finals, 10 NCAA Final Fours and 16 NCAA quarterfinal appearances.

At Denver, Tierney will coach with his son, Trevor, an All-America goalie at Princeton who played on the 1998 and 2001 NCAA championship teams. After college Trevor went on to play professionally for the Denver Outlaws.

"The expansion of the game to the West is exciting," Tierney said. "If we are truly going to make lacrosse a nationwide sport, we need for some programs out there to become great. I think I can help Colorado lacrosse become the launching pad for that movement. I am proud of what we were able to do together at Princeton. This has not been an easy decision for me."

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