Entering his 10th year as head coach of the Keene State men's lacrosse team, Mark Theriault, a three-time LEC Coach of the Year, is looking forward to the challenge of assembling the pieces of the puzzle that will have the Owls in contention for the Little East Championship and an NCAA tournament berth this season.

With the loss of several key players that elevated the program into the national spotlight, Theriault will assume the role of chess master. "This year is much more of a chess match, putting the right players together and seeing how the chemistry works," he said. "As a coach, it's a fun challenge."

Joining a two-year-old varsity program in 1999, Theriault, who has posted a fine 93-43 (.684 pct.) record and a 36-12 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 a pair of Little East tournament titles, appeared in five conference championship games, and produced 46 All-Little East Conference players and five Offensive Players of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and the Defensive Player of the Year honoree the past four seasons. Last season, 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 last year's North/South Senior All-Star game. Theriault will serve as a coach at this year's All-Star game. In addition, three Owls were named to the inaugural LEC All-Academic team last spring.

"I want Keene State to regain the LEC championship and return to the NCAA tournament, but I also want the players to have a profound experience," he said. "In the big picture, college sports is more than just what your win-loss record is at the end of the season."

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 and Developmental Camps and is also the owner/editor-in-chief of the New England lacrosse website www.nelax.com.

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 Northfield, Mass., with his twin boys Jack and Connor, and two Siberian huskies.

Set to begin his third season with the program, Craig Roach, a former Owl player, has been elevated to the team's top assistant coach this season. Roach, who played two seasons at KSC (2002-03), served as team captain as a senior. He also played two years for the Keene State baseball team.

After graduating, Roach joined the coaching ranks, taking over the program at Johnson (Vt.) State for two seasons.

Roach, a native of Turners Falls, Mass., assists Coach Theriault with game coaching and helps out with recruiting.