Spallina brings success to SBU lacrosse

Joe Spallina is the new women's lacrosse coach at Stony Brook University, athletic director Jim Fiore announced Wednesday, and Spallina has hit the ground running, reporting for duty a week before his official start date.

That is not surprising to anyone familiar with Spallina, who is known to immerse himself in the task at hand.

"The upside here is tremendous," Spallina said of his new Division I job. "If people are going to get us, they better get us now. I didn't accept the position at Stony Brook to be the fourth-place team or fifth-place team in America East. I have higher aspirations. I know Mr. Fiore has higher aspirations. We want to be the best, the top, the best in America East. It's not going to be the easiest thing out of the gates, but after we get this rolling I think this has a great opportunity to be a special place on Long Island, a place where the top kids want to stay [home] and be part of it."

Spallina replaced Allison Comito, whom the university said resigned in May after a six-year record of 42-54.

Spallina, who won three national titles and was 73-2 in four seasons at Adelphi, expects to land some top local recruits. "If you are coaching on Long Island, you better be able to get those kids," he said. "I think the important thing is getting a couple so the people can say, 'Wow, so and so went there.' We want this to be the premier destination on Long Island."

Spallina, 38, is proud of his coaching roots. He started at Rocky Point High School, where he won three county titles in 10 years.

"I started coaching girls lacrosse by my athletic director telling me that's what I was doing," Spallina said. "I was loving it, embracing it. It's almost the appropriate track that you wish a lot of people could experience. It's starting from ground level and building up to the next level. To be head coach at Stony Brook University is a special thing for my entire family."

Spallina gave up his full-time job as a physical education instructor at Rocky Point, but in return was given a five-year contract to become the highest paid women's lacrosse coach in the America East Conference, a person familiar with the process said.

Spallina's resume was impossible to ignore.

"I knew right away he was exactly what this program needs," Fiore said. "I'm about hiring a 'fit' and giving people an opportunity that they have earned, and Joe fits into that category. Joe's body of work allowed him the access to get the opportunity, and he won the job. It's nice to have Division I experience; certainly you must have college experience, for me at least. You have to recruit. This business is about recruiting, period, end of discussion."

Stony Brook sophomore Alyssa Cardillo said the team is thrilled to have Spallina.

"He has such a great track record with Rocky Point and Adelphi, and I'm excited that he is coming to Stony Brook and is going to make us winners," she said. Cardillo handed out programs and seat cushions when Stony Brook hosted the NCAA Final Four last month. SBU will host again next spring. "I definitely do not want to be working the NCAA Tournament, I want to be in it," she said. "I want to be out there."