NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College has named Patrick Geiger as the head coach of its new men's lacrosse team that is expected to make its debut in the 2016 season. Westminster previously announced the addition of men's lacrosse as a varsity sport in November.

Geiger has been most recently serving as an assistant coach at SUNY Brockport in Brockport, NY, prior to accepting the head coach position at Westminster. He also previously was an assistant coach for the Varsity Boys' Lacrosse team at Brockport High School (NY).

"First, I would like to thank President Richard Dorman, Athletic Director Jim Dafler, and the faculty/staff I had the privilege to interview with for this opportunity," Geiger said. "The decision to come coach at Westminster was an easy one. The people here are extremely supportive and excited for the new lacrosse program. It is an honor, and a great opportunity, to become the first head lacrosse coach in Westminster's history. This lacrosse program will provide a unique and exciting sport for the student body."  

A native of Fairport, New York, Geiger graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and Foreign Language. While at West Point, Geiger played defense on the NCAA Division I Army lacrosse team for Hall of Fame Coach Jack Emmer. Geiger also served as the West Point Junior Varsity lacrosse team coach during his junior and senior years.

Following his graduation from West Point, Geiger spent six years as an Infantry Officer in the US Army where he received the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for leadership in multiple combat engagements while serving in the Iraq War for 15 months from 2007-2008. Geiger has currently been a Senior Military Science Instructor in the Army ROTC program at Rochester Institute of Technology.

"Now that the administrative work is done, there are three critical phases in preparation for the spring 2016 season," said Geiger. "The first, and most critical, is to start the recruiting process for the 2015 and 2016 year groups. The second phase is our fall ball season, where we will come together and practice as a team for the first time ever.  The third, and final phase, will be the start of our spring practice next year to sharpen the edge and allow us to be competitive in the Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC)."

Westminster joins current Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) members Bethany, Saint Vincent, Thiel, and Washington & Jefferson as members of the newly-formed Ohio River Lacrosse Conference that also includes lacrosse playing schools from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC).

"I am very pleased that Patrick Geiger has accepted our offer to be the first-ever men's lacrosse coach at Westminster," said athletic director Jim Dafler. "Patrick will bring a proven leadership skill set that will be important in the development of all phases of our new program both on and off the field, and I expect and am confident that the student-athletes he will coach in his program will benefit from his leadership and will represent Westminster in a positive way."

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 379 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.