Entering his 12th year as head coach of the Keene State men's lacrosse team, Mark Theriault, a four-time LEC Coach of the Year, is looking forward to the challenge of defending their Little East Championship and an NCAA tournament berth from 2010. Theriault, who brings a career record of 115-53 into the 2011 season, has helped the Owls dominate in conference play with a 49-7 (.875 win percentage) since ushering KSC into the league in 2000.

Joining a two-year-old varsity program in 1999, Theriault, who has posted a fine 102-47 (.684 pct.) record and an impressive 42-7 mark in the LEC, has seen his hard work pay off. He has not only built the Owls into one of the top programs in New England, but he's also moved the team into the national spotlight, garnering a 17th place finish in the 2008 USILA poll.

Under Theriault, the team has claimed three Little East tournament titles, appeared in six conference championship games, and produced 49 All-Little East Conference players and six Offensive Players of the Year, three Rookies of the Year, and the Defensive Player of the Year honoree three conseucutve seasons (2006-08). Last season, Griffin Meehan followed up his Rookie of the Year honors by being tabbed the Little East Conference player of the year and being named to the USILA All-American Team. The junior was also the NCAA Division III statistical champion for points per game.

In 2008, Tony Santa Fe received Offensive Player of the Year honors, and goalie Matt Johnson '08 was selected as the LEC's Defensive Player of the Year. In 2007, Johnson joined Eric Momnie '05 as Keene State's first two USILA All-Americas. Six players have participated in the senior East/West All-Star game, while Johnson participated in the 2008 North/South Senior All-Star game.

Theriault served as a coach at the North/South All-Star game in 2009. In addition, two Owls were named to the LEC All-Academic team last spring.

Prior to his tenure at Keene State, Coach Theriault was the head coach at Western New England College, where he went 14-3 and won the Pilgrim League championship in 1996.

Throughout his coaching career, Theriault has been active in the sport. He was the chair of the men's lacrosse conference, was a voting member of the national Division III poll, and served on the Regional Advisory Committee for the NCAA. Currently, Theriault sits on the All-America selection committee.

Coach Theriault is the owner/director of the Elite 180 Lacrosse Recruiting.

Theriault is a 1996 graduate of Springfield College, where he was a two-time All-American. During his junior year, when the Pride won a national championship, he was the Most Valuable Player of the championship game. At the end of his senior year, Theriault was voted Most Outstanding Midfielder in the nation. Theriault also participated in the North/South Senior All-Star game at Johns Hopkins University. He played lacrosse professionally for the Boston Blazers and in 1996 was voted the Unsung Hero of the team. He continues to play in a summer league in western Massachusetts.

Coach Theriault resides in Winchester, N.H., with his twin boys Jack and Connor, and three Siberian huskies.

A former three-year goalie for the Owls from 2008-10, Alec Corliss moves from a volunteer assistant to an assistant coaching position this season.  Corliss said he began thinking about coaching after his KSC playing career ended prematurely with a foot injury his junior season in the 2010 Little East Conference championship game.  “I wanted to stay involved in the game and help with the development of the teams’ goalies, so this is the ideal position for me,” he said. 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have Alec join our staff,” said Theriault.  “He wanted to continue to pursue a career in coaching, so this is a perfect fit for him”

Corliss came to Keene State after a standout career at Lincoln-Sudbury (Mass.) High where he earned Eastern Mass. All-League, Goalie of the Year and MetroWest Tribune honors as a senior.  The Waltham, Mass native led his senior squad to a 19-2 record and a third consecutive appearance in the state tournament. 

While in high school, Corliss played and later coached with Top Gun lacrosse based in Acton Mass.  His Fighting Clams All-Star team was ranked No. 4 in the country. His knowledge of Eastern Mass. lacrosse will come in handy as he begins recruiting for Keene State. 

Serving behind All-American Matt Johnson as a freshman, Corliss took over as Keene State’s top goalie as a sophomore.  He finished his Owl career with a 13-6 record, a 9.54 GAA and .556 save percentage.  Playing in the 2010 LEC championship game against rival Eastern Conn., Corliss made 10 first half saves, many of the miraculous variety, before suffering a season-ending injury in the third quarter of the game.  

Corliss is looking forward to working and developing the talents of KSC’s young goalies as well as working with the teams’ defense.  “My job is to see where the goalies fit and augment them to the college game,” said Corliss.  “I want to get them comfortable with what they’re doing on the field, so they can perform to their potential.”

Matt Griffin joins the Keene State College men’s lacrosse coaching staff as spending the past two years as the head boys’ lacrosse coach at Keene High School.  

Inheriting the head coaching job at Keene High in 2010, Griffin didn’t waste any time making his mark, leading the Blackbirds to their first winning season (10-6) in six years and the programs’ first playoff appearance. Last year, the team finished 10-7 and made its second straight trip to the tournament, earning Griffin Division II Coach of the Year honors.

Griffin is excited about joining the Keene State program.  “It’s been a dream of mine to move into the college coaching ranks, so it was a perfect time and a perfect opportunity” said Griffin, who will serve as the Owls’ offensive coordinator.

“Matt is going to be great addition to our staff.  He’ll help continue the process of taking the team to the next level,” said Theriault. 

According to Theriault, Griffin will be heavily involved in the Owls’ recruiting efforts and add a different perspective to the teams’ offense.  “In the past, I’ve had Keene State players on my staff.  Matt will bring a different and fresh look to our offense,” Theriault said.

Griffin, who also works is a police officer and school resource officer at Keene High School, brings a diverse background to his new position.  Griffin grew up playing lacrosse in New Jersey where he was a four-time All-State selection as an attackman and a preseason All-American as a senior at Morristown-Beard High School.  Joining the Navy after high school, Matt played for the All-Navy West Coast Team, where he was a captain for two years.

"I'm hoping the transition to the college ranks is going to be a smooth one for me," said Griffin, who also serves as the co-director of the New England Elite Lacrosse.  “The talent level is great up-and-down the roster.”