Ryan Danehy - Men's Lacrosse Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Ryan Danehy

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
menslaxstaff@mercer.edu
Phone:
478-301-4615

2023
Ryan Danehy completed his first year at the helm which concluded with the team earning the 4th seed in the ASUN tournament (first tournament berth since 2015), three All-ASUN selections and three USILA Scholar All-Americans. 2023 was defined as a “tale of two seasons” with the team making dramatic on-field improvements in the second half of the year. In addition to the success on the field, additional program firsts and records were set off the field as well.

Lead Mercer to a 6-10 (5-4 ASUN) record featuring a trip to the ASUN Conference Tournament as a four seed. This was the first time Mercer has made a conference tournament since 2015.
Instructed Three All-ASUN Student Athletes:
- First Team All-ASUN: Ashton Wood
- Second Team All-ASUN: Wesley Chairs
- All-Freshmen: Michael Frederick
Coached three Academic All-District team members
- Ashton Wood, Wesley Chairs, and Parker Junod
Coached three USILA Scholar All-American
- Ashton Chairs, Garrett LeClaire, Wesley Chairs
Raised a program record during their fundraising drive
- 4x times the previous record set in 2011
Team GPA: 3.223 (up from a 3.094 in 2022)
2023 Accomplishments (on-field)
- Team Offense (goals per game):
  - First 7 games; 7.28
  - Last 9 games; 13.11
- Team Defense (goals against per game):
  - First 7 games; 15
  - Last 9 games; 12.22
- Team Clearing Percentage:
  - First 7 games; 73.75% (104-141)
  - Last 9 games; 93.06% (161-173)
- Team Face Off Percentage*:
  - First 7 games; 54.93% (95-173)
  - Last 9 games; 62.16% (161-259)
  - Ranked 10th in Division I NCAA
- Team Turnovers Per Game:
  - First 7 games; 20.28 (142)
  - Last 9 games; 15.44 (139)
- EMO Percentage:
  - First 7 games; 19.23% (5-26)
  - Last 9 games; 42.5% (17-40)
- MDD Percentage:
  - First 7 games; 48.58% (18-35)
  - Last 9 games; 72% (7-25)

Ryan Danehy was named the Mercer Men's Lacrosse Head Coach on August 5, 2022

Danehy, who has spent more than 15 years coaching at the collegiate, professional and international levels, arrives in Macon after a four-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Bucknell University. In 2022, he helped the Bison to a Patriot League Tournament berth and oversaw an offense that averaged 13.53 goals per game as the 19th-best scoring offense in Division I lacrosse (also a program record). Under his coaching, Connor Davis earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year with 43 goals while Harry Wellford earned 2nd Team All-Patriot honors as well. For the first time in Bucknell program history, three players scored over 50 points in the same season. Prior to Bucknell, Danehy spent two seasons at the University of Pennsylvania and was also the offensive coordinator for the New York Lizards, a Major League lacrosse squad (now PLL). With the Lizards, Danehy led a potent offense that averaged 15.06 goals per game, good for second in the MLL, during the 2018 campaign. Four Lizards ranked in the MLL's top 15 in scoring, with Rob Pannell setting a league record with 78 points. Pannell was ultimately named the MLL MVP and Offensive MVP for his efforts. Will Manny (2nd, 62 points), Joe Walters (8th, 52 points) and Paul Rabil (13th, 45 points) joined Pannell in the top 15; Rabil notably became the MLL's career scoring leader by registering his 596th point that season. From 2012 to 2014, Danehy served as Michigan's offensive coordinator. During his final season in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines set a program record with 152 goals, which stood until 2017. Danehy also mentored Michigan's first All-ECAC First Team selection, Kyle Jackson, and four All-ECAC Rookie Team honorees. Danehy broke into collegiate coaching at Dartmouth, his alma mater. After spending his first two seasons as an assistant offensive coordinator, he transitioned to goalie coordinator and assistant defensive coordinator in 2009. He later moved to offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 2011, spending two seasons in those roles. Beyond his on-field and recruiting responsibilities, Danehy played a key role in fundraising and monitoring the educational development of his players. In June 2017, Danehy was named the president and chairman of the Turkey Lacrosse Association; he led the country's team that competed at the 2018 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championships. He previously coached at the international level in 2015, when he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the U-19 Team USA Indoor squad, which finished fourth overall at the World Games. A native of Billerica, Mass., Danehy graduated from Dartmouth in 2006. A four-year starter for the Big Green lacrosse team, he posted 84 points (73g-11a), including four (3g-1a) in the program's first NCAA tournament appearance against Syracuse in 2003. He also was a long snapper for the football program. Following his collegiate playing career, Danehy was selected 49th overall by the Boston Cannons in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse draft. He went on to spend five years in the league, playing for the Cannons and Chicago Machine.