Gene McCabe Named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year Generals’ mentor garners the award for the third time after winning his fourth ODAC title.

By Brian Laubscher
June 1, 2023

Washington and Lee University Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Gene McCabe was selected as the 2023 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year in voting conducted by the league’s coaches.

McCabe led the Generals to a program-record 18 wins during the season, finishing with an 18-5 overall mark and a 7-2 conference ledger. The Blue & White finished the regular-season ranked ninth in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division III poll and seized the conference title with a 12-11 win over top-seeded University of Lynchburg on May 6.

W&L earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004. The Generals opened with a 21-10 win over Centre College in the opening round and then posted a 13-10 victory over Grove City College. The season came to an end with a 12-9 loss to second-ranked Salisbury University on May 20. The Blue & White set numerous records during the season, including the most goals (403), assists (271) and points (674) in program and conference history.

Over his 17 seasons as the Generals’ top mentor, McCabe has led W&L to four ODAC Tournament Championships and seven trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament. He’s been named the ODAC Coach of the Year three times and his coaching staff was honored as the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) South Region Staff of the Year in 2018. McCabe claims a 258-117 (.688) overall record as a collegiate head coach, including a 204-99 (.673) record at W&L.

McCabe has served as a faculty member at W&L through two separate stints, first as an assistant coach from 1998-2001, and again as head coach since 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in European history from Bates College.

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