Iona University Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski announced Chad Surman as the school’s inaugural men’s lacrosse head coach.
 

Surman will coach the newly announced Iona men’s lacrosse team on the back of spending four months as an assistant coach at Manhattan College following his time at Mercer College where he spent seven years, two as the head coach.  

The new varsity Iona men’s lacrosse team was announced in August along with the addition of the women’s acrobatics and tumbling team.
 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Iona University and lead the men’s lacrosse program,” Surman said in an interview with Iona athletics.
 

“During the interview process I was able to meet with many great people and could quickly tell that there is excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the sport of lacrosse,” Surman said. “I would like to thank President Carey, Athletic Director Matthew Glovaski and Deputy AD Tom Moran for providing me with this amazing opportunity. I look forward to hitting the ground running to build a program of national distinction.”
 

Chad Surman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Salisbury in 2013 and 2014, before joining Lehigh University in 2015, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach and assistant offensive/ extra-man offensive coordinator.
 

Surman joined the Manhattan Jaspers as defensive coordinator and development assistant coach in July 2022. He joined after Manhattan’s 2022 MAAC Championship run and the departure of previous head coach Drew Kelleher.
 

Before his time at Manhattan College, Surman was head coach for the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia who compete in the Southern Conference. Surman took over the program after spending five seasons as assistant coach there where he served as defensive coordinator.
 

During his time at Mercer University, Surman also served as a member of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee and as an assistant coach representative for the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association.
 

As a player, Surman played two seasons at Salisbury College, appearing in 44 games and starting 36, while anchoring the Seagulls’ defense that won the NCAA Division III National Championships in 2011 and 2012.
 

Salisbury’s defense was the second best in the nation both years they won while Surman was there.
 

Surman began his collegiate career at Le Moyne College, a Division II school, and they reached the NCAA Division II finals, with a defense that allowed four goals per game on average.
 

After his time at Le Moyne College, Surman won the NJCAA National Title with Onondaga Community College in 2010. He then attended a training camp with Major League Lacrosse team, Atlanta Blaze, in 2016 but was unable to go any further in the professional leagues.
 

Surman received his undergraduate degree in history in 2012 and his master’s degree in teaching in 2014 from Salisbury College. He currently lives in New York City with his family.
 

Iona will be the seventh team to enter the MAAC for men’s lacrosse with the current teams featuring Canisius College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Siena College, Saint Bonaventure University, Monmouth University and Quinnipiac University.