Aug. 19, 2004

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Lars Tiffany was introduced to members of the media, assemblyman Steve Englebright, the athletic staff and the Stony Brook community in an afternoon press conference on Thursday. Tiffany joins Stony Brook after spending the last four years as an assistant at Penn State. Excerpts from Thursday's Press Conference: Director of Athletics, Jim Fiore
On Stony Brook's loyal supporters
"I would like to take the time to thank President Kenny who is on safari in Africa and sends her best wishes to Coach Tiffany . . . and also Senator Ken LaValle who continues to be a tremendous ally, friend and supporter of not only our local community, but also Stony Brook University and our department of athletics . . . and Mike Russell who is a member of the Stony Brook Council and his unyielding support has been nothing short of tremendous." On Lars Tiffany
"We decided that we were looking for someone who would be: first, an aggressive recruiter that would enhance the on-field success of our program. Secondly, someone who would embrace Stony Brook's philosophies in athletic and academic excellence. And third, someone who believes in this powerful institution that is Stony Brook and wanted to be part of what we continue to build here in this department and University. We found that all and then some in Coach Tiffany." Lars Tiffany On the people who influenced his life
"Thank you to my family for their love and guidance. My mother - the most wonderful person in the world. My father - the man who taught me toughness and the reward that can be had from physical labor and challenges. And thanks to my brothers Hudson and Peter - for the endless contests and battles, but also undying loyalty and friendship. Thank you to my close friends, especially Tom Dwyer and Rich Tuohey, for so much encouragement and insight." Thank you to the people of my hometown of LaFayette and to the Onondagas, such as Joe Solomon and Brad Powless, who demonstrated to me the cultural and social importance of the game of lacrosse. Thank you to all of the coaches I have worked with, and learned so much from. I have grown tremendously under their leadership. Dom Starsia - an outstanding role model for what a good father and coach should be, and who has served as a mentor for me. Jeff Young - for the positive, tireless energy he gives to his football and lacrosse teams and assistants at the RLS school in California. Shane Lynch - for the compassion and leadership he provided the men of LeMoyne. Jim Stagnitta - for the incredible amount of lacrosse strategy and schemes I learned from him. Rick Sowell - for his dogged pursuit of top recruits and his energy to make an athlete better, tougher, and more competitive and Glenn Thiel - for providing me the chance to grow as a coach."

Lars Tiffany

On the game of lacrosse
"Lacrosse, for the Native American, once served many purposes: preparing young men for war, settling tribal disputes, strengthening alliances, and paying tribute to ancestors and to the Creator. Today, the game does not serve the same role. But there still is a strong sense, for the Native American, of Lacrosse's role in the rite of passage to manhood. It is this theme, the rite of passage to manhood, that I look to take and use as the overlying principle for the Stony Brook Men's Lacrosse Program." On his goals
"A core goal of mine as the head coach of Stony Brook's Men's Lacrosse Program is to provide these young men the tools and character to achieve success in their academic pursuits, their playing careers, their professions, and their emotional lives. I will do my best to lead them to be great men, giving them guidance to be outstanding teammates, leaders, sons, brothers, and someday fathers. I want the men of the Stony Brook's Men's Lacrosse Program to truly understand the words passion and commitment. I truly believe that if we do all of these things, we will win on the field, win in the classroom, and win in life." Addressing his team
"I now look to the young men of this program. To sacrifice is to love... to love is to sacrifice. Commit to this program, and this program will gave back to you in so many positive ways. There is reward in physical and manual labor. To steal a line from Winston Churchill's inaugural address in 1940, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." I will ask the same from the young men of our program. We will strive to play as one, as a united force. With hard work, intelligence, and unity as our goals, we look to build on Stony Brook's past and create an electrifying future." Final thoughts
"My final thought is this: Winning is not everything, but the Will to Win is. The commitment, the energy, the passion we have and give forth will ultimately, and truly, define each of us and this program. The staff we assemble will provide leadership. And you men will be asked to not only follow, but to be leaders yourselves. I ask you, and the Stony Brook Community, to join me as we, together, lead Stony Brook Lacrosse to new heights."