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Legacy
Program History
From the auditorium in 1969 to today - the remarkable story of Longmeadow lacrosse
In the winter of 1969, UMass Men's Lacrosse coach Dick Garber came to LHS at the request of science teacher Bill McCullough. Coach McCullough, the varsity hockey coach, wanted to introduce the game of lacrosse to the boys at the high school. Nationally recognized, Coach Garber was the perfect person to do just that.
1969
The Beginning
Coach Garber addressed an auditorium full of freshman, sophomore and junior boys, explaining that he was about to introduce them to the fastest game on two feet. He then showed a film of the North-South college lacrosse game from the spring of 1968.
The game featured college All-Americans and Garber as coach of the North team. Lacrosse became part of LHS sports during the next two hours as a cheering, awestruck auditorium full of boys fell in love with the game they were nearly all seeing for the first time.
The First Club Team
Coach McCullough quickly followed up with the first boy's lacrosse club. Players purchased wooden sticks with leather and catgut pockets and began throwing and catching that winter and early spring in the high school parking lot and on streets and driveways throughout Longmeadow as they enthusiastically began to build the skills necessary to play lacrosse.
The club team played that first year with helmets on loan from UMass and hockey gloves. The team played prep schools, Amherst High School and even scrimmaged a Springfield College club team. Players traveled to games in cars, Coach McCullough ran the field with his players and everyone fell in love with the game of lacrosse.
1970
The First Championship
“Longmeadow surprised the Eastern Mass. Champions, beating them 7 to 4. A tradition of unmatched success in Massachusetts high school sports was born.”
In 1970 the team became a varsity sport, and math teacher Dave Stockwell, familiar with lacrosse from his days at Harvard, assisted Coach McCullough. The first varsity season was a huge success, culminating with the first-ever state championship game at Winchester.
1970s - Present
A Legacy of Excellence
Throughout the following years, Longmeadow was blessed with committed coaches who got the most from their players.
Bill McCullough
1970 - 1974
59–11
Record
Dave Stockwell
1975 - 1981
119–13
Record
Dan Kane
1982 - 1991
173–30
Record
Glenn Maller
1991 - 2000
114–59
Record
John Rauseo
2001 - 2012
196–66
Record
Outstanding Players
Longmeadow lacrosse has been blessed throughout the decades with exceptional players, many of whom were high school All-Americans who went on to stellar college careers.
70s
Dick Jones
All-American Award
Bob Jones
All-American Award • Coaches Award
Charlie Jones
2X- All-American Award
Dave Southworth
All-American Award • Coaches Award
Dave Bourdreaux
All-American Award •Defensive Player Award
Scott Seaman
All-American Award
80s
John Delisio
All-American Award • Coaches Award
Dan Dineen
All-American Award
Greg Fisk
All-American Award
Today
A Continuing Tradition
While many more high school lacrosse programs exist today than the few that played in 1970, one thing remains unchanged. Lacrosse at LHS occupies a special place in the history of high school sports in Longmeadow and throughout Massachusetts.Keith Campbell continues the tradition of excellence that began in the high school auditorium in 1969.
“
The fastest game on two feet
Coach Dick Garber, 1969