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Richie Moran
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Richie Moran, Cornell Coaching Legend, Dies at 85

Historic Cornell men’s lacrosse coach Richie Moran, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at the age of 85.

Moran spent 29 years with Cornell from 1969-1997. During his time with the Big Red, Moran tallied a career record of 257-121 and went 124-50 in Ivy League play. Moran led the Big Red to 14 NCAA tournament appearances and made it to the NCAA Championship game in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1987, and 1988. Cornell won the NCAA Championship in 1971, 1976, and 1977. Under Moran’s leadership, Cornell won 15 Ivy League Championships with 11 undefeated Ivy League seasons with three teams finishing the entire season undefeated.

Arguably Moran’s biggest coaching achievement came from 1976 to 1978 where the Big Red won 42 consecutive games which still remains an NCAA record. Cornell won 39-straight Ivy League games from 1973 to 1979. Moran was named Division 1 National Coach of the Year in 1971, 1977, 1987 and was introduced to the U.S Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983.

During the 1978 World Games, Moran served as the head coach for Team USA and brought home a silver medal. He is the founder of the Irish Lacrosse Foundation where he served as President for the organization. Moran was also the head coach for the team which placed top ten in the World Lacrosse Championship in 2002 and 2006.

Moran’s impact on the game was certainly crucial to the growth of sport of lacrosse in the 1970s and 80s. Moran was widely considered to be an ambassador of the game as his passion was felt by everyone who ever met him. His efforts to grow the game were noticed in 2012 when he earned the Spirit of Tewaaraton award which is given to an influential figure in the sport of lacrosse.

Prior to his time at Cornell, Moran was a midfielder at Sewanhaka High School from 1951 to 1955 before enrolling at the Cortland University. After only one year at Cortland, Moran moved on to the University of Maryland where he graduated in 1960. Moran was a member of the Maryland men’s lacrosse team helping secure a national championship for the Terrapins in 1959. Maryland introduced Moran into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1991. Following graduation, Moran would enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps before moving onto becoming a high school coach. Moran would coach high school lacrosse at Manhasset High School, Elmont Memorial High School, and the Long Island Athletic Club before moving onto Cornell.

Richie Moran’s legacy lives on through his wife Pat along with his three children Kevin, Jennifer and Kathy.