Logan McNaney's Journey: From Overwhelmed Recruit to Maryland Lacrosse Great

Logan McNaney — like many other student-athletes who spent their collegiate careers in College Park — vividly remembers his first official visit to the University of Maryland. 

Most recall their visit for positive reasons, influencing their decision to become a Terp. However, although growing up a fan of Maryland lacrosse, the sixth-year goalie went back home to Corning, New York, with doubts that Maryland was the right place for him. 

“We just went around the campus on the visit with some of my teammates from the same club,” McNaney said. “I'm like, ‘Holy crap. This place is huge.’ It was pretty overwhelming.”

As a young teen from a small city of just over 10,000 people, the university — with more than 40,000 students — felt massive. McNaney expressed his concern to Maryland’s head lacrosse coach, John Tillman, who was coincidentally from the same city. 

Tillman was honest, as he always is with his recruits. He believed that he shouldn't join his program if McNaney truly felt Maryland wasn’t the place for him. But he still sought to help him make his final decision.   

The accomplished coach invited McNaney back to Maryland for a second visit. To alleviate his worry, Tillman simulated what it would be like to wake up in the morning and attend practice while living in an on-campus dorm. He walked with McNaney from the freshman dorm to the lacrosse field to do so. 

“I was like, ‘Well, why don’t you come back down and we'll walk the campus,” Tillman said. “If you feel it's too big, then we get it. But if you walk it and you feel like it's not too big, then you know what? Maybe we have something.’”

McNaney committed to Maryland following the second visit before he reached high school. He sees the walk with Tillman as a major turning point, helping him realize the campus wasn’t as overwhelming as he first thought.

The goalie went on to become one of the best at the position in program history. He’s the program’s all-time leader in saves (743) and wins (59), and looks to add to his marks as the Terps make their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. 

But more impressive than any statistic or honor, McNaney’s rise to greatness is undermined by a selfless attitude and overcoming adversity. 

“He's one of the most selfless guys I've ever met,” junior defenseman Will Schaller said. “To have that calming personality behind you when you’re on the field is super helpful. It's awesome to be a part of his journey and what he's achieved.”

A Leap Of Faith 

As Tillman described in an article published by USA Lacrosse Magazine, he and his staff took a “leap of faith” when naming him the starter as a true freshman during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season in 2020. 

Maryland lacrosse historically opted to redshirt its first-year goalies. Standouts like Niko Amato, Kyle Bernlohr and Dan Morris redshirted in the 2010s, and McNaney was primed to follow the same path. 

“The thought was that we have some older guys,” Tillman said. “Let's redshirt Logan and make this a transition year. That was the plan. What that does sometimes is it challenges them, but it takes a little pressure off.”

Collegiate lacrosse was a big adjustment for McNaney, who hadn’t even lifted weights before coming to campus. He had a decent fall season, but due to seniority, others on the roster were ahead of him on the depth chart. 

McNaney was named the scout team goalie in the spring. He faced shots from All-Americans such as Jared Bernhardt and Logan Wisnauskas there. This allowed him to showcase his skills daily, and he kept improving as every practice passed. 

The Terps began the 2020 season 4-1, including a narrow double overtime win at unranked Richmond and a loss to unranked Villanova. As Tillman and his staff always did at each position — despite a win or a loss — they assessed their personnel, specifically at the goalie position. 

Tillman opened a competition for the starting job that McNaney ultimately won. Maryland was scheduled to play Navy days before he was named the starter. However, many Midshipmen tested positive for COVID-19, and the game was cancelled. This allowed McNaney to practice with the first team for a whole week. However, his reward was drawing No. 5 Notre Dame in his collegiate debut.   

“We just felt like going into that game, Logan gave us the best chance to win,” Tillman said. “Ironically enough, it was Notre Dame. A tough ask to start as a freshman in that game, but he played great.”

McNaney became the first freshman goalie to start for Maryland since Amato in 2011, and the first true freshman to do so since Brian Phipps in 2007. He made 10 saves and surrendered single-digit goals in a statement win.   

The goalie followed his debut with another double-digit save outing in a win over Albany. However, five days later, the NCAA ruled to cancel the remaining 2020 spring sports seasons. It was an unfortunate end as Maryland and McNaney were hitting their strides. Still, the McNaney era was officially underway.

The Path To No. 1

McNaney went 36-1 as a starter, playing in two national championship games before tearing his ACL in a loss at Loyola two games into the 2023 season. His record includes an undefeated 18-0 campaign in 2022 that resulted in him being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. 

He experienced the highs and lows of winning the title in 2022 after losing by one score in the title game the year before. However, nothing compared to the feeling of having his 2023 season ripped away due to injury.  

“It was pretty special with that group, after going through all the stuff we did in 2020 and 2021, to come out on top,” McNaney said. “It was probably one of the best moments in my life. … But that injury was probably one of the hardest things I had to deal with my whole life.”

Tillman also vividly remembers McNaney’s injury, which forced him to name another true freshman goalie as the starter.  

“I can still, in the back of my mind, picture that day at Loyola,” Tillman said. “That injury is still etched in my mind. I can still see that happening, which made for a tough year.”

Brian Ruppel stepped up in McNaney’s place. He performed well, but the Terps finished the season 10-6 and were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

McNaney credited his coaches, teammates and support staff for helping him get through the initial months of his injury. He worked tirelessly and unwaveringly, recovering in time to begin the 2024 season as the full-time starter.  

Whether it’s giving up a goal he felt he should’ve stopped or suffering a potentially career-defining injury, Tillman, teammates and other staff members credit McNaney for his unflappable mindset. 

 “Anything that happens, good or bad, he's just very even keel,” Tillman said. “He's very grounded. A lot of times with goalies, they get emotional, and you can see that. … He's never that way. He's always the same guy. I say that as a compliment. He's very steady, consistent and never has a doubt.”

Despite playing most games with some sort of knee soreness, McNaney brought Maryland back to a national championship in 2024. Despite doing so, he didn’t feel he performed his best. He entered 2025 with something to prove.

 McNaney had surgery on his hand and underwent a procedure to clean up the knee he tore the year prior, over the offseason. This caused him to miss a significant chunk of the fall season. According to Tillman, Ruppel played outstandingly in his place. Suddenly, McNaney and Ruppel were competing for the starting job.     

“I thought both guys gave us a good chance to win,” Tillman said. “We came back in the spring knowing we would have to make a decision fairly fast. We only had about three, four weeks to make a decision, and it was close. We didn't even know, after the first scrimmage, who would be the starter.”  

The veteran earned the nod and almost simultaneously earned the honor of being the next Terp to wear No. 1. A tradition that has been passed down in the program, the number is reserved for the best of the best; those who demonstrate leadership and do the right things on and off the field.  

“You look up to all the guys that have worn that jersey and all the things that they have done,” McNaney said. “I’m super honored to be wearing it. I look back on all the guys that have worn the number and have an appreciation for all of them and what they've done here.”

Being The Best 

McNaney has brought the Terps to the NCAA title game in each of his three full seasons as their starting goalie. Maryland’s No. 1 is now looking to continue his remarkable feat. His big game experience makes it an attainable goal, according to his assistant coach and defensive coordinator, Jesse Bernhardt. 

“You can't put a price tag on him,” Bernhardt said. “Not only has he been a guy who's been here for years, but he's also played in a lot of big games. It’s an invaluable thing to have that experience. And just who he is as a person, he is about as calm, cool and collected as they come.” 

As McNaney’s career comes to a close, he’ll be remembered by fans for his greatness. But Tillman and others close to the program will never forget him for living up to its motto: Be The Best.  

“I think Logan will be remembered as a guy who bought into that, lived up to that and embraced it,” Tillman said. “Most importantly, everybody's been better for it. He's been a great teammate, leader and friend.”

Tillman continued, explaining how McNaney checks all the boxes regarding being an asset to Maryland lacrosse. Not even he could’ve predicted what the young teen would do for his program when he went on the stroll with him, which solidified him as a Terp.  

“We’re always looking for high-character guys,” he said. “Guys who will positively represent the school, our program and the Maryland community. Guys who are hard-working, selfless, team-first guys. Logan is all of those things.”