Dave Pietramala - Men's Lacrosse Coach - University of North Carolina Athletics

Dave Pietramala

Title:
Defensive Coordinator
Email:
dpietra@unc.edu

North Carolina men's lacrosse head coach Joe Breschi has announced the addition of defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala to his coaching staff in July 2023.

"I'm incredibly excited to welcome Dave to the Tar Heel Lacrosse family," Breschi said. "We've been competitors, teammates and friends for many years, and the opportunity to add a Hall of Fame player and National Champion coach to our staff is fantastic for Carolina Lacrosse. The ability for him to join sons, Dominic and Nick, in Chapel Hill is a dream come true."

Pietramala arrives in Chapel Hill after spending the previous two seasons at ACC opponent Syracuse in the same role.

"I'm grateful to Coach Breschi for the opportunity to be part of this prestigious University, and to work alongside him and this outstanding staff," said Pietramala. "I look forward to developing a strong relationship with each member of this team, meeting the highest of standards on-and-off the field with the incredible student-athletes in Chapel Hill, and pursuing a lifelong dream of coaching my sons."

"I'm excited to join the Carolina Lacrosse family as we work together toward achieving our goals in the ACC and on the national level."

Prior to his time with the Orange, Pietramala spent 20 seasons as the head coach at Johns Hopkins (2001-20), where he led the Blue Jays to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Championships (2005 and 2007), seven Final Fours, and became the program's all-time winningest coach (207-93).

The former three-time All-America defenseman returned to his alma mater prior to the 2001 season, where he led the Blue Jays to Championship Weekend four times in his first five seasons. From 2002 through 2005, Johns Hopkins posted a record of 55-6, with only three losses in the regular season. With his 2005 National Championship, Pietramala became the first in college lacrosse history to win a Division I National Championship as a player and head coach.

Pietramala earned his first head coaching opportunity with Cornell, leading the Big Red to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in five years during the 2000 season. After being named the National Coach of the Year in 2000, Pietramala became the first in college lacrosse history to earn Coach of the Year honors after being named National Player of the Year during their career.

Before becoming a head coach, Pietramala had assistant coaching stints at the Gilman School (1990), Johns Hopkins (1991, 1995-97), Penn (1992-93), and Loyola (1994) before securing the head coach role with the Big Red prior to the 1998 campaign. He has mentored over 100 All-America honorees during his time, including 98 in his head coaching tenure.

As a player, Pietramala helped Johns Hopkins to the 1987 NCAA Championship and an appearance in the 1989 NCAA Championship game. A two-time recipient of the Schmeisser Award, given to the nation's top defenseman, Pietramala was awarded the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award in 1989, as the nation's most outstanding player.

A 2004 United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee and 2022 Tewaaraton Legend Award honoree, Pietramala joins the Tar Heel program which includes his twin sons, Dominic and Nick.