Sept. 3, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland announced on Monday that longtime men's lacrosse coach Dick Edell will retire from the post he has held for the past 18 years due to health-related reasons. Edell will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Dave Slafkosky, who has served on the sidelines with Edell for the past 25 years and since Edell came aboard at Maryland prior to the 1984 season. The university will conduct a national search, which will begin immediately, to name a permanent head coach.

Edell stressed that his health issue is not life-threatening, but that it is affecting his quality of life. "My mind and heart want to do this, but my body won't," said Edell, 57. "I'm thankful to the school for giving me the chance [18 years ago] and to all of my coaches and players. For 18 years this has been an unbelievable experience. I don't know of many people who get to spend the professional life doing what they love doing with people they like being around."

Maryland director of athletics Deborah Yow said the school appreciated all of Edell's efforts with the men's lacrosse program. "We are profoundly grateful for the many contributions that Dick Edell has made to our athletic program. He has coached our men's lacrosse team with skill and great dedication, and he will be missed by everyone associated with the athletic program."

Edell concluded his 29th season of coaching and 18th season at Maryland this past spring and will go down in history as one of the all-time coaching greats of the game. After finishing with a 13-3 record in 2001, Edell leaves with the best career ACC record at 171-76 (.692), all at Maryland. On March 11, 2000, Edell became the first coach to reach the 150-win plateau at an ACC school, with a win over his alma mater, Towson.

With a lifetime record of 282-123 over 29 years including stints at the University of Baltimore, Army and Maryland, Edell was the nation's second-winningest active coach. Ironically, the only coach Edell trails on the active list is Jack Emmer (289-159), who succeeded Edell at Army in 1984.

He is the fifth all-time winningest coach in men's lacrosse annals, overall. He passed former Cornell coach Richie Moran and Syracuse legend Roy Simmons, Sr., during the 2000 season and former Towson coach Carl Runk (262) with the Terps' win at Cornell on March 18, 2000. The all-time leader is former UMass coach Dick Garber (300 wins).

"Big Man," as he is affectionately known on the College Park campus, has led his teams to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances (17 in Division I including the 2001 selection), including 13 at Maryland. He has also led the Terps to three ACC championships (1985, 1987 and 1998) and three NCAA championship game appearances (1995, 1997, 1998).

He was named the National Coach of the Year by the USILA in 1978 and 1995. He was also selected as the ACC Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992 and 1998.

He became the seventh coach in history to pass the 400-games coached plateau. Edell won his 400th career game in the ACC semifinals on April 20, 12-8 over Virginia, at Orlando.

Edell graduated from Towson in 1967, where he was a two-time All-American, with a degree in physical education. He earned his master's degree in education from Western Maryland in 1970 and another master's degree in science from the University of Baltimore in 1976. He broke into the coaching profession in 1968 as the freshman coach at Towson and after two years with the Tigers, Edell spent three years at Calvert Hall High School, where the Cardinals were crowned MSA champions in 1971 and 1973.

In 1973, he was hired at the University of Baltimore where he coached for four years and amassed a 45-23 record. He also coached Baltimore to a Division II national soccer championship in 1975.

Edell and his wife Dolores are the proud parents of four children. Their daughters Lisa and Krissy are both Maryland graduates, while their son Gregg graduated from Dartmouth in 2000 after a successful lacrosse career and currently works in New York City. Their youngest daughter, Erin, is beginning her college career at the University of Delaware and is a member of the Blue Hens' lacrosse team.

Edell By The Numbers

Edell's Coaching Career

Year     School      Won   Lost    Pct.   ACC     Postseason/Honors
1973-76  Baltimore    45     23    .661           Three NCAA Div. II Tournaments
1977     Army          8      3    .727
1978     Army         10      3    .769           NCAA First Round
1979     Army         10      3    .769
1980     Army          8      4    .667
1981     Army         10      4    .714           NCAA First Round
1982     Army          9      4    .692           NCAA First Round
1983     Army         11      3    .786           NCAA First Round
1984     Maryland      7      4    .636   1-2
1985     Maryland      7      5    .583   2-1     ACC Champions
1986     Maryland     10      3    .769   2-1     NCAA Quarterfinals
1987     Maryland     12      1    .923   3-0     ACC Champions/NCAA Semifinals
1988     Maryland      6      4    .600   1-2
1989     Maryland     10      4    .714   3-0     ACC Reg. Season Champs/NCAA Semis
1990     Maryland      7      5    .583   1-2
1991     Maryland     10      5    .667   1-2     NCAA Semifinals
1992     Maryland      9      5    .643   2-1     NCAA Quarterfinals
1993     Maryland      6      6    .500   0-3     NCAA First Round
1994     Maryland      7      6    .538   1-2     NCAA First Round
1995     Maryland     12      4    .750   2-1     NCAA Finalists
1996     Maryland     10      3    .769   2-1     NCAA Quarterfinals
1997     Maryland     11      5    .688   1-2     NCAA Finalists
1998     Maryland     14      3    .824   3-0     ACC Champions/NCAA Finalist
1999     Maryland      9      5    .643   1-2
2000     Maryland     11      5    .688   1-2     NCAA Quarterfinals
2001     Maryland     13      3    .813   2-1     NCAA Quarterfinals
Totals   29 years    282    123    .696  29-25    20 NCAA Tournaments (17 NCAA D-I Tourn.)
At UM    18 years    171     76    .692  29-25    3 ACC Titles/13 NCAA Tournaments


Winningest Active Coaches Through 2001 (By Wins)
1. Jack Emmer, Army            289-159
2. Dick Edell, Maryland        282-123
3. Glenn Thiel, Penn State     252-161


Winningest All-Time Coaches (By Wins)
1. Dick Garber, Massachusetts	       300
2. Roy Simmons, Jr., Syracuse        290
3. Jack Emmer, Army                  289
4. Jim Adams, Virginia, Army, Penn   284
5. Dick Edell, Balt., Army, Maryland	282


Winningest All-Time ACC Coaches (By Wins)
1. Dick Edell, Maryland         171-76
2. Jim Adams, Virginia          137-60


Winningest Active Coaches Through 2001 (By Win Percentage)
1. Bill Tierney, Princeton      76.4%   194-60
2. Dave Urick, Georgetown       75.3%   238-78
3. Dave Cottle, Loyola          72.1%   181-70
4. Mike Pressler, Duke          71.0%   184-75
5. Dom Starsia, Virginia        70.9%   200-82
6. Dick Edell, Maryland         69.6%   282-123
7. Tony Seaman, Towson          66.2%   186-95
8. Don Zimmerman, UMBC          65.8%   128-66
9. Jack Emmer, Army             64.4%   288-159
10. Dave Klarmann, Radford      63.0%   104-61


400 College Games Coached
1. Jack Emmer, Cort., W&L, Army  447   (288-159)
2. Dick Garber, Massachusetts    444   (300-141-3)
3. Carl Runk, Towson             423   (262-161)
4. Tom Hayes, Rutgers            420   (238-182)
5. Glenn Thiel, Va., Penn St.    413   (252-161)
6. Jim Adams, Army, Penn, Va.    408   (284-123-1)
7. Dick Edell, Balt., Army, Md.  405   (282-123)


NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances
1. Roy Simmons, Jr., Syracuse     18
2. Dick Edell, Army, Maryland     17