Michael Gongas is in his eighth year on the Hofstra men's lacrosse coaching staff as an assistant coach after joining the Pride in August 2019. Gongas serves as the Pride's offensive coordinator.
This past season, he led a trio of Pride players to all-conference honors, including CAA Rookie of the Year Gus Langtry.
Gongas helped the Pride to eight wins and a berth in the CAA Championship semifinals in 2025.
During the summer of 2023, Gongas served as an equipment manager with the gold medal-winning Team USA at the World Championships. In addition, he was recognized with World Lacrosse's Heart and Spirit of Lacrosse Award. Gongas was also named an assistant coach for the 2023 USA Select Teams.
Gongas, a native of Port Jefferson, New York, brought 12 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Hofstra. Prior to joining the Pride, he served as an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College during the 2019 season, overseeing the offense, goalies and recruiting. Gongas also served as an assistant coach for the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, overseeing the goalies, man-up situations and box lacrosse development while assisting with the offense.
A 2007 graduate of Adelphi University in nearby Garden City, New York, Gongas played two seasons for the Panthers, earning All-American honors as a senior. Prior to Adelphi, he played two years of lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts and was a member of the Minutemen’s 2005 squad that advanced to the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals. Gongas was also a member of Comsewogue High School’s 2002 New York State Championship team and earned All-American and All-Long Island honors in 2003.
Gongas began his coaching career at Suffolk County (NY) Community College as an assistant directing the offense, goalies and serving as study hall advisor from August 2007 through December 2007. He left Suffolk to begin a four-year tenure at Presbyterian College, the first two seasons as an assistant coach in charge of the offense, goalies, recruiting, student-athlete development and study hall advisor. In September 2009, he was promoted to head men's lacrosse coach and served in that capacity until June 2011.
In August 2011, Gongas became an assistant coach in charge of the offense, recruiting and study hall at Sacred Heart University. After two years at Sacred Heart he moved on to Marist College where he spent five years as an assistant coach, serving as the offensive and goalies coach, recruiting coordinator, head of player development, community service coordinator and the IMLCA representative for assistant coaches in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Gongas was drafted by the Long Island Lizards in the 2007 MLL Supplemental Draft and participated in their 2008 training camp. He also participated in the 2007 National Lacrosse League (indoor) combine and signed a contract with the New York Titans.
Gongas holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Adelphi.
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