Former Navy men's lacrosse head coach Richie Meade has been selected for induction into the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) Hall of Fame it was announced by the organization.

The Class of 2022 - Francis "Babe Kraus (Hobart), Richie Meade (Navy), Glenn Thiel (Penn State) and Paul Wehrum (Union) - will be formally inducted to the IMLCA Hall of Fame on Saturday, Dec. 10 (6:00 pm), at the Omni Orlando Resort in Florida. Tickets for the event may be purchased via the IMLCA's website at www.IMLCACoaches.com. Additionally, Bob Russell, the father of 2006 Naval Academy graduate and Kelly Award winner Matt Russell, will receive the IMLCA Contributors Award posthumously.

Meade's coaching career spanned nearly five decades (193-185, .511) and included stints at six different universities, including three as head coach. A 1976 graduate of North Carolina, Meade cut his teeth in the industry as an assistant coach at Duke (1977-78) and North Carolina (1979) before earning his first head coaching job at the University of Baltimore in 1980. He led UB to a 27-23 record in his four seasons before the school dropped its athletics program in 1983.

Meade arrived in Annapolis for his first coaching stint with the Mids as an assistant coach under Bryan Matthews in 1984. Serving as the defensive coordinator, he helped lead the Midshipmen to the NCAA Quarterfinals (1986-87-88) his final three years in Annapolis. He coached alongside the legendary Willie Scroggs at UNC in 1989 and '90, reaching the NCAA Semifinals both seasons. Scroggs retired following the 1990 season and Meade moved on to Army where he would serve on Jack Emmer's staff from 1991-94.

In 1995, Meade was named the head coach at the Naval Academy, a post he would hold for 17 years. His 142 wins are the second most in program history, while the 239 games he coached wearing the Navy Blue & Gold are the most by a Navy head coach. Additionally, he is the fifth-winningest coach in school history with his 59.4 winning percentage (142-97).

During his tenure at the Academy, Meade helped Navy transition from being an independent for nearly 100 years to being a member of the ECAC (2000-03) and then the Patriot League (2004-current). Navy made an immediate impact and raised the bar in the Patriot League, as Meade guided the Midshipmen to five Patriot League Tournament titles (2004-05-06-07-09), while earning at least a share of the regular-season crown five times. Additionally, he was twice named the Patriot League Coach of the Year (2004-07).

Meade led Navy to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including six straight from 2004-09. Kicking off the string of NCAA Tournament trips was the 2004 season in which Navy put together a 15-3 record and made the program's first appearance in the National Championship Game since 1975. Upon completion of the historic 2004 campaign, Meade became the fourth coach in program history to receive the Morris Touchstone Memorial Award as the National Coach of the Year. Meade's Navy teams advanced to at least the NCAA Quarterfinal round three times (2004-05-08).

Twenty-two different players accounted for 40 All-America laurels over his 17 seasons at Navy (Navy had an All-American in each of his 17 years), including three-time All-Americans Andy Ross (1995-96-97), Chad Donnelly (1998-99-00), Matt Russell (2004-05-06), Steve Looney (2004-05-06), Billy Looney (2005-06-07) and Jordan DiNola (2006-07-08). Additionally, he mentored two Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award winners as the nation's top goalkeeper - Mickey Jarboe (1999-00) and Matt Russell (2004). Meanwhile, Andy Ross graduated from the Academy in 1997 and was named the U.S. Men's Senior National Team in 1998 and 2002.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Meade was also a tenured full professor in the Naval Academy Physical Education Department where he taught a range of activities and personal defense classes, including boxing.

After departing the Academy, Meade was appointed the head coach of the U.S. Men's Senior National Team in December 2012. In May of 2013, Meade was introduced as the head coach at Furman, a position he would hold for seven years and be named the 2017 Southern Conference Coach of the Year before the program was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A native of Williston Park, N.Y., Meade is also a member of the New York Metropolitan Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame and University of Baltimore Athletic Hall of Fame. He has served the sport in a variety of administrative positions over the years, including the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Rules Advisory Committee, U.S. Lacrosse Men's Coaches Council and NCAA Rules and Equipment Committee. He has served president of the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) as well as executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project Lacrosse.

Meade will be the fourth former Navy head coach inducted into the IMLCA Hall of Fame, joining William "Dinty" Moore (1936-58), Willis Bilderback (1959-72) and Dick Szlasa (1973-82).

### Go Navy ###