New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz announced the hiring of Dylan Neisler as the new Hawks men's lacrosse coach Friday.
"We're excited to welcome Dylan back to SUNY New Paltz to shepherd our men's lacrosse program onto its next chapter. Our student-athletes are eager to get started," said SUNY New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Renee Bostic.
Neisler becomes the second coach in program history, as he returns to the team that he helped establish during its inception in 2019-20 alongside then head coach Dwayne Stewart. Stewart became the inaugural head coach at SUNY New Paltz after a five-year stint at Lincoln Memorial University where he coached Neisler who starred for Railsplitters from 2015 to 2018.
"I want to thank Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Renee Bostic, Vice President Stephanie Blaisdell and the search committee for the opportunity to come back to New Paltz and lead the men's lacrosse program," Neisler said. "In a way, coming back to New Paltz is a homecoming. Dwayne and I started this program four years ago and coming back to build upon the foundation that he built means the world to me. We are still extremely close, and I know he's going to continue to be in my corner through this journey."
Dylan Neisler (left) with coach Dwayne Stewart (right) at Lincoln Memorial
After graduating from Lincoln Memorial University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a minor in strength and conditioning, Neisler joined Stewart's staff to start the Hawks men's lacrosse program in the fall of 2019.
As SUNY New Paltz's lead assistant, Neisler aided in all aspects of the program, along with being the team's defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Following the program's first season in 2020, which was cut to just four games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Neisler joined the staff at the College of Wooster where he was the team's offensive coordinator and served in the same role as recruiting coordinator. He took over the Fighting Scots program as interim head coach for a season where he helped Wooster to six wins including a 4-5 conference record.
Most recently, Neisler took over the helm at Mitchell College in New London, Connecticut before coming back to SUNY New Paltz, taking over from his mentor Stewart.
The Hawks played their first full season in 2022 after their 2020 and 2021 campaigns were shortened due to COVID-19. In their first full season in 2022, SUNY New Paltz set a program record in wins, totaling three including the team's first ever SUNYAC victory over SUNY Oneonta. SUNY New Paltz returns the bulk of its roster from a season ago, including nine starters as it enters the spring.
"The potential of the program is extremely high," Neisler said. "We have great kids, academics, facilities and an administration that will back us. It will take a lot of work along the way, but I'm confident we can continue to build into the future."
**********************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on
Twitter at
@nphawks,
Instagram and
Facebook at
@newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our
Youtube channel,
New Paltz Hawks.
