Former Sachem lacrosse coach Rick Mercurio was notified that he’ll be inducted to the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame next year.
Mercurio, who coached at Sachem High School prior to the district’s split in 2004 and eventually Sachem East post-split, accumulated 316 career victories and is one of the most successful lacrosse coaches in Long Island history.
He led Sachem to a New York State title in 1993, and Long Island and Suffolk County titles in 1993 and 1995.
“I am deeply proud and honored to announce that I will be inducted into the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame,” Mercurio wrote on his Facebook wall. “I owe and share this award with so many, especially all the talented, hard working and dedicated players I have had the privilege to have coached over the years. Nothing would mean more to me than to have my former players, staff, family and friends join me on this special evening.”
Mercurio is the second member of the Sachem lacrosse family to be inducted to the hall, joining former player Doug Shanahan, who was inducted in 2012.
Though Mercurio built his coaching reputation during two decades at Sachem, he also coached as an assistant briefly at Mount Sinai with longtime friend and former rival Joe Cuozzo, a fellow Hall of Famer from Ward Melville.
Today, Mercurio is heavily involved in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), where he is an ambassador of the game, traveling the world to teach the game’s fundamentals to growing lax populaces. He served as an assistant coach with Team Russia during the World Games in Denver this past summer.
He was also recently named to the FIL’s Development Committee.
The induction ceremony will take place on February 7.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro