Blue Ridge has a new head lacrosse coach, and as far as splashy hires go at the high school level, this one may take the cake.
Former University of Virginia coach and lacrosse hall of famer Dom Starsia is set to lead the Barons’ boys lacrosse program Blue Ridge announced Thursday after Michael Herring stepped down in October to become the head coach at Young Harris College.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to coach the Blue Ridge team,” Starsia said in the school’s release. “I have enjoyed every part of getting to know the school and the community and want to thank headmaster Trip Darrin for his hospitality. What I am really looking forward to is what I truly love about coaching, the daily contact with young people on the practice field. Please stay safe and let’s get ready for 2021.”
Starsia won four NCAA Tournament titles (with a whopping 13 final four appearances in that span) and six ACC tournament championships at UVa before he was forced out in 2016 on the heels of a 7-8 campaign. Starsia most recently was the head coach of the Chrome Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League. Starsia lives in Charlottesville and was inducted into the Lacrosse National Hall of Fame back in 2008. Starsia has coached a legendary list of players from Tillman Johnson to Steele Stanwick to Doug Knight and Ben Rubeor.
“We are very excited to have Coach Starsia taking over the lacrosse program,” Blue Ridge School Athletic Director Bryan Puckett said in the school’s release. “In my conversations with [Starsia], I was impressed with his immediate gravitation to our mission and how much his personal philosophies are in sync with our school’s philosophy. I am looking forward to working with Coach Starsia as he continues our lacrosse program’s outstanding tradition.”
The Barons’ program has upped its profile over the last decade, first with an influx of Canadian players, but the Barons have cycled through several coaches, including Herring’s three-year stint as the head coach that included last year’s COVID-19 related cancellation. Blue Ridge has produced several high profile recruits like Denver signee Tyler Pace and earlier this week announced the signing of four different players on this year’s roster at the college level — Spencer Amacher at Ohio Wesleyan, Jack Charboneau at Johns Hopkins, Meaki Nelson at Mount St. Mary’s and Adam Bland at Hobart.
Now that quartet of seniors will be led by a true legend in the sport in Starsia as they look to build off the team’s state quarterfinal appearance in 2019 that included a first round win over Collegiate after a VIC championship.
