Hall of Fame
Shane P. Lynch - Class of 2009
Winning isn’t everything… but making the effort to win is.
Two years were 26 years in the making. From Liverpool High School to Ohio Wesleyan to SUNY Potsdam to Clarkson University to SUNY Canton.
And then, he came home to Le Moyne.
If the college aspires to instill spirit, inquiry and leadership; he most certainly belonged here. And in just two years as Head Coach of Lacrosse he moved the program from mediocrity to an undefeated conference record, established a trajectory that ultimately led to the Dolphin’ s first National Championship and earned him Coach of the Year honors.
Spirit. His Dolphins were always the best-conditioned team on the field, perhaps because their coach often ran and drilled side-by-side with them. His squad “adopted” Route 481. He knew that taking responsibility for cleaning the highway would build camaraderie and demonstrate that they were about more than lacrosse.
Inquiry. He enrolled in a Le Moyne philosophy class to better understand what his players were experiencing. A player recalls there was a reason for everything he did; a well-considered attention to details -- from how players dressed to how they ran sprints and drills.
Leadership. Everyone who met him felt they were his best friend. He had a natural ability to motivate; he was sincerely concerned about his players; making seemingly random calls to “check in.” He called players from his sickbed to monitor academic progress…
As he fought his final contest, the entire Le Moyne Community joined his effort. His team led a fundraising event attended by thousands and generated tens of thousands of dollars for a special cancer treatment. Though this victory was not to be won, in 28 years his efforts had touched the future. In the hearts and minds of many, and in the values he instilled in the players he loved, he left a legacy that will endure.
In just two years he made a home at Le Moyne, where he embodied all that the college hopes to be, and therefore,
Shane P. Lynch
is an honorary member of the
Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame
September 26, 2009.
