Steve Colfer will begin his 18th season as the Cavaliers' men's lacrosse head coach in 2017-18. He is also in his seventh year as assistant director of athletics for recruitment and retention.
As assistant director of athletics, Colfer will work closely with the College's enrollment management division, coaches and student-athletes to enhance the overall experience from recruitment to graduation.
In 17 seasons at the helm of the Cabrini men’s lacrosse program, Colfer has mentored the Cavaliers to 17 consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) titles and 16 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He owns a commanding 245-67 career record.
Colfer is an 11-time winner of the CSAC Coach of the Year honor, last receiving the award in 2017.
Entering the 2017 season, Colfer ranked fourth among active coaches Division III head coaches with a .784 winning percentage and listed fifth all time. Colfer also ranks 14th among the NCAA's winningest coaches of all time by percentage. He claimed his 150th career win with a 9-6 victory against Marywood University in the 2011 CSAC championship game and his 200th in a 9-8 win over Mary Washington in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
In 2014, Colfer mentored the program's first national player of the year, as Corey Elmer (2011-14) received the USILA Iroquois National Award as the Most Outstanding Player in Division III. Under Colfer, the Blue and White have earned 60 USILA All-America accolades, including six in 2017. Among those honors are four USILA First Team All-Americans in Casey Grugan (2010), John McSorley (2012), Elmer (2014) and Evan Downey (2017). Fourteen Cavaliers have also garnered USILA Academic All-American honors, including two in 2017.
The Cavaliers tied a program record with 17 wins in 2017 and were ranked as high as ninth on the USILA/NIKE Coaches Poll. Colfer and the Blue and White topped No. 1 Salisbury 11-10 in a thrilling overtime victory, marking Cabrini's first ever win over the Sea Gulls and snapping their 20 game win streak. Cabrini went on to top Marywood 18-6 in the CSAC championship, before victories over Colorado College and No. 10 Franklin & Marshall in the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue and White also entered the NCAA record books in 2017. On April 1, the Cavaliers scored a 26-1 win at Keystone College, marking the program's 103rd consecutive CSAC victory, breaking the previous NCAA record. Cabrini pushed the record to 108 wins after completing a perfect 7-0 conference slate.
Colfer led the Blue and White to a 15-5 mark in 2016, marking the program's eighth campaign with at least 15 victories. Cabrini extended its CSAC win streak to 101 with a perfect 7-0 conference record, before topping Gwynedd Mercy 21-6 for its 16th consecutive CSAC championship. The Cavaliers also scored a 15-10 victory at No. 10 Stevenson to punch their 12th appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cavaliers opened the 2014 campaign with a program record 11 consecutive victories, including four wins over top 20 teams. The Blue and White ranked as high as No. 2 in the USILA Coaches Poll. Cabrini closed the season with a 17-2 record, tying a school record for most wins in a season, and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
After facing one of the nation's toughest schedules, including seven USILA Top 20 teams, the Cavaliers closed the 2013 with an overall record of 15-4, while extending its CSAC win streak to 96 consecutive regular season games. The Blue and White closed the season ranked No. 5 in the USILA poll and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cavaliers had one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2012. Colfer led the Blue and White to its second 17 win season, while reaching reaching No. 6 in the USILA rankings. Six Cavaliers were honored as USILA All-Americans including McSorley, the program's second First Team honoree and second three -time All-American.
In 2008, Colfer coached the Cavaliers to a program-best 17 wins. Under his tutelage, four student-athletes – third-team honoree Grugan and honorable mention selections Matt McKinney, Jeff Moore and Scott Reimer – claimed USILA All-America distinction. The Cavaliers finished the season ranked No. 6 nationally, the program’s highest listing all-time.
With Colfer leading the charges, the Cavaliers have become a welcomed fixture in the NCAA Tournament, capturing its first win all-time in 2003. Cabrini bested local-rival Widener, 13-8. The Cavaliers are 4-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament at Edith Robb Dixon Field.
Colfer served as co-head coach of the Division III team for the 65th annual North-South All-Star in 2006, hosted by Villanova.
In 2009, Colfer was named head coach of the Bermuda National Team. He guided the Bermudians to a 3-4 mark, including the country's first international win all-time, at the 2010 FIL Championships in Manchester, England.
Before his appointment as head coach at Cabrini, Colfer served four years as the team’s offensive coordinator from 1997-2000. He began his coaching career on the sidelines at the high school level at Salesianum School in Wilmington, Del., helping lead his alma mater to a state title game appearance in 1994 and the ultimate goal one year following.
Colfer graduated from Salesianum in 1989, performing as an all-state midfielder as a senior and playing a key role in the team’s run to the state title game against Tatnall. He earned three varsity letters at the University of Scranton as a longstick midfielder.
Colfer, a native of West Chester, PA, graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Scranton in 1993. He earned a master's of science degree in education from West Chester University in 1999.
Colfer and his wife, Lauren, also a Scranton graduate, and their daughters, Maggie and Annie, reside in Wayne, PA.
