UMBC adds former Binghamton head coach to staff
Ed Stephenson, a former UMBC assistant coach from 1995 to 2000 who worked to beat the Retrievers as the head coach at Binghamton, has re-joined UMBC.
The university announced Friday that Stephenson has been added to Don Zimmerman’s staff as the associate head coach. Stephenson fills the void created when Pat Tracy, then the team’s defensive coordinator, left for High Point on May 31.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have Ed Stephenson return to UMBC,” Zimmerman said in a written statement distributed by the school. “Coach Stephenson is a person of principle and strong character. He has proven himself to be one of the top defensive minds in the game of lacrosse and is admired and respected by his colleagues. His ability to relate to players both on and off the field is invaluable to their growth and development.”
Stephenson, a former defenseman at Towson, had been the head coach at Binghamton since the program’s inception for the 2002 season. Although his overall record with the Bearcats was a less-than-flattering 45-81, Stephenson directed the team to six consecutive America East tournaments and the title game in 2004, which was the only time he was named the conference’s Coach of the Year.
Stephenson resigned from Binghamton in March to protest the school’s decision to suspend three players for their involvement in an on-campus fight on March 2.
Stephenson argued that the three students had not been given due process, and he claimed they were in danger of being kicked out of school.
The players remained in school, but they did not play for the remainder of the season.
Comments
UMBC can thank their lucky stars that Ed Stephenson was available and decided to return to the Retrievers. Coach Zimmerman could not have asked for a better assistant. Hopefully, Coach Zim will be able to keep Ed at UMBC for awhile.Stephenson is an outstanding coach and an even better person.
Posted by: tom Maier | July 2, 2011 3:03 PM