June 23, 2004
BALTIMORE, Md. - Former Army head coach Dick Edell was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame by the U.S. Lacrosse Board of Directors. The legendary lacrosse mentor becomes the 11th member of the Hall of Fame associated with Army lacrosse and is one of 10 honorees who received the necessary 75 percent of the votes to earn induction into the hallowed hall. The class will officially be inducted during a ceremony on Nov. 20 at The Hunt Valley Marriott in Hunt Valley, Md.
Joining Edell in the Class of 2004 are Jane (Diamond) Barbieri (West Chester Univ.), Rosalia Gioia (Hunter College), Jackie Hufnell (West Chester Univ.), Barb Jordan (Penn State), Peter Kohn, Sal LoCascio (UMass), Dave Pietramala (Johns Hopkins), Ruth "Stevie" Stevenson (Temple) and Mike Thearle (Maryland, SUNY Farmingdale).
Edell's selection to the Hall of Fame marks the second consecutive year that a former member of the Army lacrosse family has been inducted. Last fall, Tom Sheckells (USMA '65) was honored posthumously by the U.S. Lacrosse Board of Directors. Edell is the third former Army coach to be selected to the Hall of Fame as well.
Edell compiled a 282-123 (.696) record in his 29 years of coaching, and his 17 NCAA Tournament appearances at the Division I level are second all-time behind Roy Simmons, Jr.'s 18 appearances with Syracuse. His 282 career wins lists fifth on the all-time charts. While at Army in 1978, Edell won the Morris Touchstone Award presented to the national "Coach of the Year" in college lacrosse. He won the award again in 1995 at Maryland, leading the Terps to the national championship game three times (1995, 1997 and 1998).
Edell, 60, patrolled the Black Knights' sideline for seven seasons (1977-83), posting a 66-24 mark during that span and leading his charges to the NCAA Tournament in each of his final three years at West Point. His .733 winning percentage at Army is the third highest among coaches with at least five years of service to the Academy. Only current Hall of Fame head coaches F. Morris Touchstone and James "Ace" Adams logged better winning percentages along the banks of the Hudson.
The former two-time All-American at Towson broke into the coaching ranks at University of Baltimore in 1973. He spent four years there before moving his family to the Hudson Valley in 1976. Edell is currently a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Potomac Chapter and the University of Maryland halls of fame. He is the all-time winningest coach in ACC history (171-76) and was voted that league's "Coach of the Year" three times while winning three ACC championships along the way. Edell was forced to step down as the Terps head coach in 2001 due to health-related reasons.
Edell also coached Baltimore to a Division II national soccer championship in 1975. He coached Army's men's soccer squad as well from 1979-81, compiling a 20-14-8 (.571) record in that brief stint.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame has inducted individuals annually since 1957. It is located in Baltimore, Md., inside historic Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University. The mission of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame is to honor men and women, past and present, who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, personify the great contribution of the sport of lacrosse to our way of life.
Dick Edell Coaching Career
School (Years) Record Pct. Postseason honors
Baltimore (1973-76) 45-23 .661 Three Div. II NCAA Tournament appearances
Army (1977-83) 66-24 .733 Three Div. I NCAA Tournament appearances
Maryland (1984-2001) 171-76 .692 Three ACC Championships/13 NCAA Tournaments
Totals 282-123 .696
2004 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Induction Class
Name (School)
Jane (Diamond) Barbieri (West Chester Univ.)
Dick Edell (Army, Maryland)
Rosalia Gioia (Hunter College)
Jackie Hufnell (West Chester Univ.)
Barb Jordan (Penn State)
Peter Kohn
Sal LoCascio (UMass)
Dave Pietramala (Johns Hopkins)
Ruth "Stevie" Stevenson (Temple)
Mike Thearle (Maryland, SUNY Farmingdale)