Entering his sixth season as men's lacrosse coach at
Quinnipiac, Eric Fekete has pushed the Bobcats men's
lacrosse program to new heights. The 2007 season will
pose many challenges as usual for the Bobcats, who begin
their second year as a member of the Great Western
Lacrosse League along with Air Force, Bellarmine,
Butler, Denver, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
In the team's inaugural season in the Great Western
Lacrosse League, the Bobcats recorded their first
winning season since 2001. Big wins included a double
overtime victory over Bellarmine and a come-from-behind
win against Butler.
Following the season, several players were recognized
for their performances both on and off the field. Five
players were named to the NEILA East-West Senior
All-Star Game - Kevin Browne, John Donnellan, Sean
McBride, Josh Murray and Eric Trama. Donnellan, Murray
and Trama were also tabbed as All-New England
selections. Browne, Donnellan and Murray were selected
as NEILA Scholar-Athletes, while Donnellan earned All-GWLL
honors.
Quinnipiac was a member of the competitive America
East conference for Fekete's first four seasons on the
bench. Fekete was also instrumental in transitioning the
program up from the MAAC Lacrosse League, where
Quinnipiac played prior to joining America East.
During Fekete's tenure in Hamden, he has also
assembled some of the most formidable non-conference
schedules in program history. Since arriving in Hamden,
the Bobcats have played the likes of Princeton, Loyola,
and Harvard.
Last winter, Fekete was named the President of the
New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. His
term will run through 2007.
The NEILA is the major body of New England Collegiate
Lacrosse covering the Division I, II, and III levels.
The NEILA is responsible for recognizing the All New
England Selection Team and the All-New England Academic
Team.
The Brine New England East - West Senior All Star
Game is also organized and governed by the NEILA. This
game, held in June, is the premier event in New England
College Lacrosse, showcasing all of the regions top
graduating college seniors in the game. The NEILA is
also responsible and committed to conducting both free
youth clinics and coaches clinics to the continually
growing New England lacrosse community.
During Fekete's first season with the Bobcats,
Quinnipiac advanced to the semifinals of the America
East tournament, where it lost to eventual champion
Albany. Fekete came to Quinnipiac after serving seven
seasons as an assistant coach, the last five at
Fairfield University. Fekete also spent the 1996 season
as an assistant at nationally-ranked Brown University.
While at Fairfield, Fekete was an integral part of
the Stags' successful elevation at the Division I level.
In 2001, Fairfield finished 7-8, including a 3-2 mark in
the highly-competitive Great Western Lacrosse League -
its first year as a member of the conference.
From 1997-1999, the Stags recorded an impressive
31-18 overall mark, including a remarkable 21-2 record
in MAAC Men's Lacrosse League action which resulted in
two league titles (1997 and 1998). In addition,
Fairfield captured back-to-back ECAC Division I
Championships, defeating Colgate, 9-7, in 1998 and Mount
St. Mary's, 15-4, in 1999.
Before his arrival at Fairfield, Fekete spent one
year as an assistant at Brown University. In 1996, the
Bears ranked in the top-ten nationally and finished with
a final 7-6 record, including a 3-3 mark in the Ivy
League.
Fekete gained additional experience in 1994 when he
coached the United State Under-19 team at the 1994 World
Lacrosse Games Festival in Manchester, England. From
1992-1995, he was the head boy's varsity lacrosse coach
at Duxbury (Mass.) High School, leading the school to
four consecutive MIAA tournament berths.
Fekete got his start in collegiate coaching in 1989,
serving three seasons on the staff at the University of
Arizona.
A native of Duxbury, Mass., Fekete attended Skidmore
College and graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in business.
While at Skidmore, Fekete was a member of the men's
lacrosse and ice hockey squads.
Fekete currently resides in Hamden with his wife,
Lisa and his four children, Emma, Sam, Charlie and Will.
