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Brian Brecht

Brian Brecht recently completed his 13th season as the head coach at Rutgers in 2024. Brecht has led the program to 106 wins and made two NCAA Tournaments, making back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022, and is a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. Brecht has led RU to three NCAA Tournament victories, including a Final Four appearance in 2022 and an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals berth in 2021. 

Overall, Brecht has been a collegiate coach since 1996 and a sitting Division I head coach since 2005. Prior to his 13 seasons at the helm at Rutgers, he spent seven as the head coach at Siena and nine years as a Division I assistant coach prior to that. 

Brecht has been named conference head coach of the year five times (Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2016, MAAC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2007 and 2006), along with being named ECAC Coach of the Year in 2022. Brecht, who was named head coach of the Scarlet Knights on June 16, 2011, has made four NCAA Tournament appearances in his career as a head coach (two at Rutgers and two at Siena). 

While at Rutgers, Brecht has coached 35 All-Americans: Cardin Stoller, Joe Juengerkes, Colin Kurdyla, Matthew Paolatto, Shane Knobloch, Ronan Jacoby, Brennan Kamish, Ross Scott (twice), Adam Charalambides, Colin Kirst (twice), Connor Kirst, Jaryd Jean-Felix (twice), Ethan Rall (three times), Shane Knobloch (three times), Noah Daniels, David Sprock, Jules Heningburg (twice), Michael Rexrode (twice), Max Edelmann, Kieran Mullins, Kyle Pless, Christian Mazzone, Scott Bieda, Zack Sikora, Joe Nardella and Will Mangan. 33 players coached by Brecht at Rutgers have become members of professional lacrosse organizations, with Shane Knobloch recently becoming the highest drafted player (fourth overall) in program history. 

Under Brecht, the program has maintained a tradition of strong academic performances. 38 of Brecht's players have been named Scholar All-Americans since he took helm of the program, including a program record eight in 2022. RU has continuously set records with numerous Academic All-Big Ten selections Big Ten Distinguished Scholars. RU has had nearly 200 student-athletes named Academic All-Big Ten and four earn Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships since joining the conference. In addition, RU has had multiple Wayne Duke Award and Big Ten Medal of Honor winners. 

In 2025, Brecht surpassed 100 career wins as the Rutgers' bench boss. The season was highlighted by a win over No. 2 Maryland, the highest ranked win in program history and the first win over the Terps since 1980. The team's defense was sixth nationally in scoring defense, best under his tenure, highlighted by a First Team All-Big Ten goalkeeper in Cardin Stoller. Short-stick defensive midfielder Joe Juengerkes, long-stick midfielder Ryan Splaine, midfielder/attackman Colin Kurdyla and faceoff man Matthew Paolatto joined Stoller as All-Americans. Three Scarlet Knights were named to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team: JJ Aiello, Colin Zeller and Haydn Sommer. 

In 2024, Rutgers saw Shane Knobloch named the USILA Midfielder of the Year, as well as a First Team All-American, becoming only the second four-time All-American in program history. Ross Scott also earned All-American honors and joined Knobloch as First Team All-Big Ten selections. Goalkeeper Cardin Stoller emerged as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. 

In 2023, Rutgers claimed eight wins and finished No. 15 in the RPI. Rutgers finished its season with an 8-6 record. The Scarlet Knights were nationally ranked for the entire season, peaking at No. 6. RU claimed four wins over NCAA Tournament teams, three wins over teams in the top-15 of the selection RPI, and their three ranked wins during the year included a win over then-No. 5 Loyola and overtime wins over rival Princeton and eventual Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan. Three players were named All-Conference and three players were named All-Americans. RU finished the season No.1  in the nation in turnovers per game. First Team All-American long-stick midfielder Ethan Rall set RU's career record with 85 caused turnovers. 

In 2022, Brecht guided Rutgers to a historic season with the program's first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament Final Four. The Scarlet Knights set a new program record with 15 wins, smashing the previous record of 11. RU downed a record six ranked foes during the season (No. 10 Army, No. 19 Loyola, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 14 Harvard and No. 3 Penn), while advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game for the first time since 2016. Rutgers hosted an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2003 and defeated Harvard in front of 5,212 fans, the third largest crowd for an NCAA Tournament First Round game since 2003. RU then defeated No. 3 Penn in the NCAA Quarterfinals to match the highest ranked win in program history. Following the season, he was named ECAC Coach of the Year. 

Seven Scarlet Knights were named All-Americans, with Ethan Rall, Colin Kirst and Brennan Kamish on the USILA's Second Team. They were joined by Ross Scott (Third Team), Jaryd Jean-Felix, Ronan Jacoby and Shane Knobloch. Six Rutgers players were named All-Big Ten, with three on the first team. 

A major milestone came in 2021 with the opening of the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center. The facility serves as the new home for the program with locker rooms and academic support. 

In 2021, Brecht led Rutgers to the NCAA Tournament for the program's first NCAA appearance since 2004. He led the Scarlet Knights to a 12-5 opening round victory over Lehigh that was RU's first NCAA win since 1990. Brecht was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, his fifth career Coach of the Year award. Brecht led RU to five ranked wins in the course of the season (No. 6 Penn State, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 14 Johns Hopkins, No. 14 Ohio State and No. 10 Lehigh) in a historic campaign for the program.

Adam Charalambides, Connor Kirst, Colin Kirst, Jaryd Jean-Felix, Ethan Rall, Shane Knobloch and David Sprock were named All-Americans, while Colin Kirst was named Big Ten Specialist of the Year. He also mentored Big Ten Freshman of the Year Shane Knobloch. Overall, RU had a record six Big Ten selections and five North/South game representatives. 

In 2019, Brecht guided Rutgers to seven wins, including a victory at No. 4 Ohio State (14-6) that tied for the program's highest ever ranked road victory. With 37 wins over a four-year span, the Brecht-led senior class became the winningest class in program history. 

Edelmann, Mullins and Pless were named All-Americans by the USILA, marking the fourth straight year RU had multiple All-Americans. The Scarlet Knights set a program record with four All-Big Ten selections and three All-Big Ten First Team honorees (Edelmann, Mullins and Adam Charalambides). Max Edelmann was named Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Year, marking the fifth Big Ten individual award winner in five years as a Big Ten member under Coach Brecht. Brecht was also tabbed to serve as the head coach for the Division I/II South Team in the 2019 USILA North/South Senior All-Star Game. 

Rutgers has achieved great success in the classroom under Brecht's leadership. In the fall semester of 2018, Rutgers compiled a 3.2 team GPA, the highest since Brecht took over the program, in addition to 16 Dean's List selections and four student-athletes achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. The spring semester of 2019 saw another program record with 24 academic All-Big Ten selections. 

In 2018 under Brecht's leadership, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 9-6 season. That was highlighted by ranked wins over No. 17 Lehigh, No. 12 Syracuse, No. 17 Michigan and No. 11 Penn State. The team qualified for its second ever Big Ten Tournament appearance. RU had three All-Americans for the first time since 2003, as Jules Heningburg and Michael Rexrode were named to the Second Team and Christian Mazzone was an Honorable Mention selection. Rexrode was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, joining Heningburg as a First Team All-Big Ten selection, with Mazzone on the second team.

The team continued to excelled both on the field and in the classroom. In addition to winning 30 games over their last three seasons, Brecht's 2018 senior class graduated with over a combined 3.0 GPA, and had a program record 20 Academic All-Big Ten selections. Mazzone and Rexrode were named Scholar All-Americans, giving RU seven Scholar All-Americans in the past four years. 

The 2017 season saw Rutgers complete a 10-4 campaign, recording double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Scarlet Knights were nationally ranked each week of the season, and rose at one point to No. 1 in the nation in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, the program's first-ever top ranking. RU earned victories over four ranked foes in No. 3 Ohio State, No. 14 Stony Brook, No. 15 Princeton and No. 19 Brown. Brecht mentored two All-Americans, as defenseman Michael Rexrode was named a Third Team All-American and attackman Jules Heningburg was an Honorable Mention All-American. 

In 2016, Brecht led Rutgers to one of the largest turnarounds in Division I lacrosse, improving the team's record to 11-5. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. The Scarlet Knights tied the program record for wins, defeating three ranked opponents (No. 9 Johns Hopkins, No. 10 Johns Hopkins, No. 17 Penn State). 

Brecht mentored a pair of players that were named All-Americans in Scott Bieda and Zack Sikora. Bieda, a Third Team All-American, was also the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten Selection, All-ECAC and a Tewaaraton Award Semifinalist. He had 28 goals, 38 assists and 66 points, leading the Big Ten in both assists and points. Sikora, an Honorable Mention All-American was also an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection and All-ECAC selection as a long-stick midfielder. Additionally, the pair was also named Scholar All-Americans. 

Brecht also tutored two other all-conference attackmen. Jules Heningburg was a First Team All-Big Ten selection. He scored 39 goals with 21 assists for 60 points, and led Big Ten with 18 goals and 26 points in conference games alone.

Adam Charalambides was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The Canadian attackman scored 43 goals, tied for fifth most in a season at RU history, and most for a first-year player. 

In 2015, Brecht guided RU through the transition into the inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference. The Scarlet Knights earned five wins, highlighted by a 17-10 win over No. 10 Ohio State in the season finale. 

Under Brecht's tutelage, senior Joe Nardella established himself as one of the top faceoff men in the nation. Nardella won 223-of-333 faceoffs for a 67.0 winning percentage that was third in the nation, and was third in the nation with 8.33 ground balls per game. He was named a Third Team All-American, the 205th All-American in program history. Nardella was drafted by the MLL's Boston Cannons, and began his professional career after his senior season concluded. 

Three players earned All-Big Ten accolades in 2015. Nardella was chosen as the Big Ten Specialist of the Year and was a First Team All-Big Ten selection. Junior captain Scott Bieda, who led the team with 30 goals and 28 assists for 58 points, was also a First Team All-Big Ten selection. Junior midfielder Zack Sikora was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Senior captain Brian Goss was selected as the Sportsmanship Honoree. 

Additionally, Campbell Sode was recognized for his academic achievements, as he joined Nardella as a USILA Scholar All-American and was named a Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award winner by the Big Ten Conference. Rutgers had 14 players in total named to the 2015 All-Big Ten Academic Team. 

In 2014, Brecht led the Scarlet Knights to its best season in 10 years in the final year as part of the BIG EAST Conference. RU posted an 8-8 record, its most wins since the 2004 team went 8-6. The Scarlet Knights made their first BIG EAST Championship since joining the conference in 2010, their first postseason appearance since 2004. RU posted an 8-7 mark in regular season play, its best winning percentage in the regular season since the 2007 team went 7-6. Rutgers tallied three BIG EAST victories, its most in a season since joining the league.

Brecht mentored four Second Team All-BIG EAST members in 2014: attackman Scott Bieda, defender Nick Contino, midfielder Joe Nardella, and midfielder Anthony Terranova. Nardella finished fifth nationally with a .632 face-off winning percentage (206-of-326), and was fourth in the country with 9.79 ground balls per game.

Brecht's squad continued to achieve high marks academically in 2014, as 28 members of the program were named to the conference All-Academic Team. 

In 2013, Brecht coached goalkeeper Kris Alleyne, who earned BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the year honors, after the freshman finished the season fourth in the nation with 14.00 saves per game and seventh in the country with a .596 save percentage. Under Brecht's tutelage, faceoff specialist Joe Nardella earned Second Team All-BIG EAST recognition after finishing fourth in the nation with a .622 faceoff win percentage.

In the classroom, the squad earned 20 BIG EAST All-Academic Team selections in 2013, with the 20 players recording a minimum GPA of 3.00 for the academic year.

In his first season at the helm of the Scarlet Knights in 2012, Brecht helped senior midfielder Will Mangan to a long list of accolades, both on the field and in the classroom. Academically, he was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-America Team. On the field, Brecht guided the co-captain to other honors including BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, All-BIG EAST First Team, a USILA/LaxWorld North-South Classic participant and USILA All-American Honorable Mention. Mangan was picked up and played professionally on Major League Lacrosse's Long Island Lizards and is now a member of the Denver Outlaws. The head coach also produced student-athletes in year one, leading 23 of his players to BIG EAST All-Academic Team recognition, which was tied for the most of any Rutgers squad that season.

Prior to arriving "On the Banks" he served a seven-year tenure as head coach at Siena College. A native of Long Island, N.Y. and a former Rutgers assistant coach, Brecht was a three-time MAAC Coach of the Year at Siena and led the Saints to multiple conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances and the program's first ever national ranking.

Brecht, who led Siena to 57 victories (57-28) in his last five seasons there, is the 11th head coach in the history of the Rutgers men's lacrosse program. He came to Rutgers after leading Siena to new heights. Under his direction, the Saints earned four MAAC regular season championships and two MAAC tournament crowns, while also making the first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. He was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2009, while being cited as the Siena College Coach of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Siena's 57 victories from 2007-11 included 22-straight MAAC wins and 13-consecutive home victories. The Saints' 57 wins over that span marked the sixth highest victory total in the nation, trailing only the likes of Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, Cornell and Notre Dame.

Thirty-five players earned All-MAAC honors under Brecht and 41 were cited as Academic All-Conference, including a trio of Academic All-Americans. Brent Herbst, who became the first Siena and MAAC player drafted by the Major Lacrosse League, was a two-time USILA All-American. In total, Brecht developed four USILA All-Americans, three North-South All-Star selections, three MAAC Rookies of the Year, three MAAC Offensive Players of the Year and three MAAC Defensive Players of the Year at Siena.

In his last season at Siena, the Saints tallied a program-record 13 wins and finished the season nationally ranked (No. 20) in both the USILA Coaches' Poll and Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll for the first time in school history. The squad advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, where it dropped a tightly contested match to No. 1 Syracuse.

Prior to his arrival in Loudonville, Brecht spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with five different schools. He made stops at Hartwick (1995-97), Penn (1997-99), Army (1999-00), Rutgers (2000-01) and Loyola (2001-04). While "On the Banks," Brecht worked under head coach Bill Dirrigl and served as the Scarlet Knights' interim head coach in October 2001.

A graduate of Sachem High School on Long Island, Brecht played collegiate lacrosse at Springfield (Mass.) College. He earned a bachelor of science in physical education from Springfield in 1995.

Brecht and his wife Gabrielle are the proud parents of a 16-year old daughter named Paige, 13-year old son, Parker, and seven-year old daughter Bailey. 

BRIAN BRECHT YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RECORD

Season School Record %
2005 Siena 4-11 .267
2006 Siena 4-10 .286
2007 Siena 10-6 .625
2008 Siena 10-6 .625
2009 Siena 12-6 .667
2010 Siena 12-5 .706
2011 Siena 13-5 .722
2012 Rutgers 6-9 .400
2013 Rutgers 2-11 .154
2014 Rutgers 8-8 .500
2015 Rutgers 5-10 .333
2016 Rutgers 11-5 .688
2017 Rutgers 10-4 .714
2018 Rutgers 9-6 .600
2019 Rutgers 7-8 .467
2020 Rutgers 2-4 .333
2021 Rutgers 9-4 .692
2022 Rutgers 15-4 .789
2023 Rutgers 8-6 .571
2024 Rutgers 7-7 .500
2025 Rutgers 7-9 .4375
Career Record (19 Seasons) 172-144 .544
Rutgers Record (12 Seasons) 106-95 .527
Big Ten Record (Nine Seasons) 26-29 .472
NCAA Tournament Record (Four Appearances - 2 at Siena, 2 at Rutgers) 3-4 .429

Brian Brecht Coaching Experience
2011-Present
Head Coach Rutgers University (Piscataway, N.J.)
2005-2011
Head Coach Siena College (Loudonville, N.Y.)
2002-2004
Assistant Coach Loyola University (Baltimore, Md.)
2001
Assistant Coach Rutgers University (Piscataway, N.J.)
2000
Assistant Coach Army (West Point, N.Y.)
1998-1999
Assistant Coach University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.)
1996-1997
Assistant Coach Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.)
1995
Assistant Coach Yorktown High School (Yorktown, N.Y.)

Brian Brecht Coaching Awards

2022: ECAC Coach of the Year
2021: Big Ten Coach of the Year
2016: Big Ten Coach of the Year
2009: MAAC Coach of the Year
2007: MAAC Coach of the Year
2006: MAAC Coach of the Year
 
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