Why We Give: Craig and Scott Hochstadt

A true staple of Maryland lacrosse is being honored in the best way. Ira “Chief” Hochstadt played with, raised, coached, and inspired generations of elite defenders within the Terps’ program.

“Maryland lacrosse was his greatest passion,” Ira’s son, Craig, said. “He went to countless games and watched every one on TV. He took players to dinners, mentored them, and was dedicated to all things Maryland lacrosse.”

Hochstadt passed away in December 2025, but his two sons, Craig and Scott, are ensuring his legacy lives on through the Ira Hochstadt Lacrosse Facilities Fund.

Their dad made sure they were never far from the program, and their childhoods were spent rooting on the Terps at Byrd Stadium and Cole Field House.

“We were born with a stick in our hand,” Craig said. 

“Probably my earliest memory was being in that locker room and walking through it after watching the team celebrate a win,” Scott said. “It was really cool and something I immediately felt connected to.”

Scott and Craig grew up in Columbia, Maryland, participating in lacrosse programs and clinics that Ira either started or coached in. He dedicated thousands of hours to bringing the game to kids and growing the sport that was his first love.

“A lot of our memories were going to Maryland lacrosse games,” Scott said. “That was just what we did. He was always so connected to the program, so he would take us to Byrd Stadium whenever he could.”

Ira was an All-American lacrosse player for the Terps and a captain in the first-ever NCAA National Championship game in 1971. He met his wife, Lynne, in College Park and created a legacy within the Maryland lacrosse program that spanned multiple generations.

“Maryland lacrosse has always been about rolling up your sleeves, working hard, and getting it done,” Scott said. “If my dad were to know that he’s the one who kickstarted this project, that’d be the ultimate honor.”

Maryland lacrosse’s motto is “Be The Best.” Ira embodied what it means to be a Terp and to care deeply for the program. On and off the field, his dedication to Maryland lacrosse was unmatched, as he continually poured into something that meant so much to him.

“One of the things I remember him saying was, ‘Be tougher than the next guy,’” Scott said. “Outwork him. That’s what Maryland lacrosse has always been about.”

“Through the end of his life, he was the toughest person we’ve ever met,” Craig said. “That was what he instilled in us. Toughness, grit, hard work.”

Craig (1999-2002) and Scott (1995-99) both spent their collegiate careers at Maryland, a place Ira surely wanted them to go, but never pushed too hard.

“We were recruited by other schools,” Scott said. “But for one reason or another, we were both brought back to campus at Maryland. It was the best thing that ever happened to us and it led to what we’re doing now for my dad.”

The new fund celebrate the brotherhood that playing for Maryland creates. The project will also honor legendary Maryland coaches Dick “Big Man” Edell, Bud Beardmore, and John Tillman.

“Playing in the Final Four a couple times and winning ACC championships definitely had a deeper meaning than just playing for another school,” Scott said. “I remember tearing up during the national anthem of the (National Championship) because it was so powerful and meaningful to be there.” It ran pretty deep. It was all meant to be.

A wave of success in the 90s let the brothers experience some of the same peaks and glory that Ira had in the 70s. The Terps were back to competing on the sport’s highest stages - a standard that continues today.

“It was fun to be a part of that because that’s what my dad was a part of,” Scott said. “It’s been a fun journey. Maryland lacrosse has been the most consistent thing in our lives. I’m turning 50 in May and my dad was involved in the program for over 55 years.”

Maryland won the national title in 2017 and again in 2022, two periods of unmatched success that the Hochstadt family got to experience together. 

“When the Terps won their first championship since the 70s, it meant everything to our family,” Craig said. “Having our dad experience that with us was incredibly special.”

“One of the best parts was seeing kids who played under my dad and me go on to Maryland and help lead the Terps to national championships,” Scott said. “West Coast standouts like Ajax Zappitello, Bubba Fairman, Anthony DeMaio, and Will and Drew Snider became part of the next generation to carry that legacy forward.”

Ira made sure to spread his love for lacrosse through more than just his family. He ran clinics, and coached countless kids on both coasts. Many of the former players Ira coached are preparing selfie videos to be played at his celebration of life, a fitting tribute to a man who touched so many lives.

“He was really passionate about kids and making sure they felt like they had a family within lacrosse,” Scott said. “He was there for them all the time.”

He instilled into defenders the passion for making life hard for attackers. He’d tell players to “check the guy so hard he can’t score because he can’t move his arm.”

The apparel industry was Ira’s profession while the boys were growing up, as he led the Mid-Atlantic region for Champion Sportswear.

“We always said, ‘This is what our dad did - lacrosse and the apparel industry,’” Scott said. “He volunteered constantly, served as president of Maryland Youth Lacrosse, and we always wanted to give that back to him.”

That foundation carried forward. Scott and Craig both moved to the West Coast to build brands rooted in lacrosse. Craig founded NextPro, a media company that expanded from lacrosse into soccer. NextPro was acquired by BallerTV and continues to scale nationwide youth sports coverage.

Scott went on to build Adrenaline Lacrosse and Starz Lacrosse, which became the largest club system of its kind from Seattle to San Diego. He then launched The Legends Brand - a sportswear company built in partnership with investors that include some of the world’s most iconic athletes. He now grows the brand alongside Craig.

Ira’s final visit to campus, before moving to California to be closer to family, included a meal with Jim Smith, Buzz Williams, and Barry Gossett, where he shared his excitement for the future of Maryland Athletics.

“There’s nothing else that he would want,” Scott said. “We’re working on this building project and his name will live on in that building. This is where he’s going to live on.”

His celebration of life will be held on campus in College Park, where his family legacy began - and where it will continue in the new facility.