Interim Tag Removed; Surman Named Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach
10/27/2020 10:02:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
The interim tag has been removed and Chad Surman is the head coach
MACON, Ga. – Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole has announced the removal of the Interim tag and has named Chad Surman the Head Men's Lacrosse coach. Surman has served as the interim head coach since Aug. 6. Â
Surman came to Mercer in Sept. of 2015 and recently completed his fifth season with the men's lacrosse program.
"I'm very pleased that Chad Surman has agreed to become the next head coach for Mercer Men's Lacrosse," said Sybil Blalock. "Chad is a great fit for the mission of Mercer University. He has been heavily involved in all aspects of the program during his tenure at Mercer. There are times when you know that you have the right leader already in your program and Chad is the right person for this job. His energy and expertise will serve our players and our university well."Â
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The 2020 season saw the Bears get off to its best start in program history. The Bears topped Florida Tech in the first contest of the year before suffering its lone defeat of the year to No. 8 North Carolina. After reeling off five consecutive victories to stand 6-1, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Despite the shortened campaign, the Bears still set several individual and team records. The program was one win away from tying a program-record for wins in a single season with seven. Sean Goldsmith twice tied the SoCon record for goals in a single game and led the nation in goals per game (4.86) while finishing fourth in the country in assists per game (6.00). Goldsmith was named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list, which is an award given annually to the nation's top collegiate men's and women's lacrosse player and is the equivalent to football's Heisman trophy. Goldsmith was also named an Honorable Mention Maverick All-American team member.Â
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"Chad has done an excellent job managing the program over the past few months," stated Brian Gerrity. "He is a rising star in the lacrosse world and he will undoubtedly elevate our program to the next level. Chad understands both Mercer and the Middle Georgia community, and I look forward to watching him lead Mercer Lacrosse."
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"I am honored and grateful to be named as head coach for the men's lacrosse program at Mercer University," remarked  Surman. "Mercer is truly a special place, and I look forward to building upon the relationships with players, alumni, and fans. I want to thank President Underwood, Jim Cole, Sybil Blalock and Brian Gerrity for this opportunity to lead the men's lacrosse program forward. Go Bears!"
In addition to Goldsmith this past season, Surman mentored Ashton Wood during his freshman campaign in 2019 and helped the Saint Augustine, Fla. product end his first collegiate campaign ranked seventh nationally in face-off winning percentage (.644) and 16th in ground balls per game (7.69). As a team, Mercer was featured in the top-25 in the team statistical categories three times, finishing the season 14th in face-off winning percentage (.595), 20th in saves per game (13.00) and 25th in ground balls per game (32.77).Â
In 2018, he was instrumental in the development of Matt Hughes who led a prolific goal scoring offense with a .564 shot percentage as a freshman, the second-best mark in the country. Pascal Coombs was a defensive force as a junior, causing 2.21 turnovers per contest to rank him sixth among all Division I players.Â
In Surman's second season (2017), the Bears were 5-8 with a pair of wins in Southern Conference play. Offensively, the Bears found themselves ranked ninth in caused turnovers per game (8.85) and 11th in man-up offense (0.441).Â
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During Surman's first season on the sidelines, Mercer compiled a 5-8 record in 2016 with four wins coming at home. The Bears were 4-2 (.666) inside Five Star Stadium. Mercer defeated a trio of Southern Conference opponents – VMI, Furman and Jacksonville – en route to a 3-4 mark in league action.
Surman arrived in Macon after spending the 2015 season at Lehigh. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Division III Salisbury University after graduating from the university.
As a player, he won the 2011 and 2012 NCAA National Championships and helped Salisbury win 30 consecutive games in 2012. Surman started his collegiate career at Division II Le Moyne, advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship as the defense allowed just 3.9 goals per game. He also boasts an NJCAA National Title with Onondaga Community College.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter), and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Surman came to Mercer in Sept. of 2015 and recently completed his fifth season with the men's lacrosse program.
"I'm very pleased that Chad Surman has agreed to become the next head coach for Mercer Men's Lacrosse," said Sybil Blalock. "Chad is a great fit for the mission of Mercer University. He has been heavily involved in all aspects of the program during his tenure at Mercer. There are times when you know that you have the right leader already in your program and Chad is the right person for this job. His energy and expertise will serve our players and our university well."Â
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The 2020 season saw the Bears get off to its best start in program history. The Bears topped Florida Tech in the first contest of the year before suffering its lone defeat of the year to No. 8 North Carolina. After reeling off five consecutive victories to stand 6-1, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Despite the shortened campaign, the Bears still set several individual and team records. The program was one win away from tying a program-record for wins in a single season with seven. Sean Goldsmith twice tied the SoCon record for goals in a single game and led the nation in goals per game (4.86) while finishing fourth in the country in assists per game (6.00). Goldsmith was named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list, which is an award given annually to the nation's top collegiate men's and women's lacrosse player and is the equivalent to football's Heisman trophy. Goldsmith was also named an Honorable Mention Maverick All-American team member.Â
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"Chad has done an excellent job managing the program over the past few months," stated Brian Gerrity. "He is a rising star in the lacrosse world and he will undoubtedly elevate our program to the next level. Chad understands both Mercer and the Middle Georgia community, and I look forward to watching him lead Mercer Lacrosse."
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"I am honored and grateful to be named as head coach for the men's lacrosse program at Mercer University," remarked  Surman. "Mercer is truly a special place, and I look forward to building upon the relationships with players, alumni, and fans. I want to thank President Underwood, Jim Cole, Sybil Blalock and Brian Gerrity for this opportunity to lead the men's lacrosse program forward. Go Bears!"
In addition to Goldsmith this past season, Surman mentored Ashton Wood during his freshman campaign in 2019 and helped the Saint Augustine, Fla. product end his first collegiate campaign ranked seventh nationally in face-off winning percentage (.644) and 16th in ground balls per game (7.69). As a team, Mercer was featured in the top-25 in the team statistical categories three times, finishing the season 14th in face-off winning percentage (.595), 20th in saves per game (13.00) and 25th in ground balls per game (32.77).Â
In 2018, he was instrumental in the development of Matt Hughes who led a prolific goal scoring offense with a .564 shot percentage as a freshman, the second-best mark in the country. Pascal Coombs was a defensive force as a junior, causing 2.21 turnovers per contest to rank him sixth among all Division I players.Â
In Surman's second season (2017), the Bears were 5-8 with a pair of wins in Southern Conference play. Offensively, the Bears found themselves ranked ninth in caused turnovers per game (8.85) and 11th in man-up offense (0.441).Â
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During Surman's first season on the sidelines, Mercer compiled a 5-8 record in 2016 with four wins coming at home. The Bears were 4-2 (.666) inside Five Star Stadium. Mercer defeated a trio of Southern Conference opponents – VMI, Furman and Jacksonville – en route to a 3-4 mark in league action.
Surman arrived in Macon after spending the 2015 season at Lehigh. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Division III Salisbury University after graduating from the university.
As a player, he won the 2011 and 2012 NCAA National Championships and helped Salisbury win 30 consecutive games in 2012. Surman started his collegiate career at Division II Le Moyne, advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship as the defense allowed just 3.9 goals per game. He also boasts an NJCAA National Title with Onondaga Community College.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter), and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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