Hofstra University Athletics

Former Pride Men’s Lacrosse Coach John Danowski led the Hofstra program for 21 years, from 1986 to 2006. During his tenure he compiled 192 victories and a .610 winning percentage, which both rank second all-time at Hofstra. 

Danowski posted 15 winning seasons during his time in Hempstead and won a then NCAA record-tying 17 games in 2006 as the Pride advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. That was one of four NCAA Quarterfinal appearance for Hofstra under Danowski, who led the team to eight NCAA Tournaments and won eight conference titles. His teams earned 17 final top 20 rankings including a No. 2 ranking in 2006. 

During his tenure, Hofstra players earned 34 All-America and 91 all-conference selections. In addition, Doug Shanahan was the inaugural recipient of the Tewaaraton Award in 2001 under Danowski’s tutelage. Danowski was the USILA Division I Coach of the Year in 1993 (also winning at Duke in 2010 and 2013) and was elected to the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001.

Danowski left Hofstra after the 2006 season to take over the reins at Duke and led the Blue Devils to NCAA titles in 2010, 2013, and 2014. One of nine coaches to lead three NCAA Division I championship teams, Danowski has won more games (443) than any other Division I lacrosse coach. 

After a stellar career at Rutgers from 1972 to 1976, where his name still dots the Scarlet Knights record book, Danowski began his coaching career at LIU-C.W. Post in 1982 as an assistant coach and was elevated to head coach one year later. He served in that role for three seasons before taking over at Hofstra in 1986. In addition to his head coaching role at Hofstra, Danowski also served several years as an assistant athletic director. 

In 2015, Danowski was selected by US Lacrosse to coach the U.S. men’s national team at the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship. The U.S. went undefeated in its seven games at the tournament and defeated Canada in the gold medal match. US Lacrosse announced in November 2018 that Danowski would coach at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship, which would make him the first coach to lead the U.S. men’s team in multiple world championships.

Danowski and his wife, Patricia, have two children - Kate, a former lacrosse letterwinner and 2005 graduate of Quinnipiac, and Matt, a 2008 Duke graduate, a former captain of the lacrosse program, and current assistant coach.