BALTIMORE, Md. --- Lynchburg College head coach Steve Koudelka highlights a trio of awards earned by ODAC coaches from the USILA as the Hornets' mentor was tabbed the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year. Former LC lead assistant Chris Perzinski was named the Assistant Coach of the Year, and longtime Hampden-Sydney College mentor Ray Rostan received the Frenchy Julien Service Award.
The awards were announced at the annual IMLCA Nike Awards Luncheon at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. In addition to the coach of the year honors, the Frenchy Julien Service Award is presented in honor of former Chief Referee, Joseph R." Frenchy" Julien for outstanding and continuous service to the sport of lacrosse. This individual has rendered a lifetime of service, accomplishments and contributions to the sport.
USILA Awards Section
Koudleka established the Lynchburg College men's lacrosse program as a national powerhouse in his 19 seasons on the sidelines. During his tenure, Koudelka has recorded an overall record of 234-95, including 17-straight winning seasons. Under his leadership, the Hornets have advanced into the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons.
The 2015 campaign was the most successful season in program history. The Hornets finished 21-3, won the ODAC title, and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament finals powered by a 19-game winning streak. Koudelka was named the 2015 All-State Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Koudelka has coached North-South All-Star game and was the past-president of the US Lacrosse Men's Division Coaches' Council Executive Committee and is a member of the Gettysburg College Hall of Fame. He is currently the chairperson of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championships Committee. Koudelka played professionally for two seasons with the New Jersey Pride for Major League Lacrosse. Koudelka was honored by the US Lacrosse Men's Collegiate Officials Committee this off-season with the James "Ace Adams" Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the college or university in each of the 11 officiating districts whose coaches, players, and fans exhibit the best sportsmanship throughout the season.
Rostan will be entering his 40th season as a collegiate coach and his 32nd as the head coach of the Tigers. He currently stands in the top-10 among all coaches in all-time collegiate victories in all NCAA divisions with an overall mark of 329-191, which includes a 289-166 record at Hampden-Sydney. The Tigers have won four ODAC Championships, made seven NCAA Tournament appearances, and had 158 All-ODAC, 65 All-America, and seven USILA Scholar All-America selections. Additionally, he has been named the ODAC Coach of the Year four times and has twice earned the Francis "Babe" Kraus Memorial Award after being voted the National Coach of the Year by his peers.
Rostan's coaching career began at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he coached from 1979-81 before moving to Ithace College from two seasons. He then setup shop at Hampden-Sydney, where he has served as the head water polo coach and assistant soccer coach in addition to his career on the lacrosse sidelines. Rostan was a member of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee representing Divisions I, II, and III from 1998 through 2003. He also served as the Chair of the USILA Men's North-South game for ten years. Coach Rostan served Hampden-Sydney as the advisor to the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for ten years. He formerly served the USILA Committee for Coaching Ethics. In 2014, the Tigers were awarded the James "Ace" Adams Award for Sportsmanship for District 4 by the National Intercollegiate Lacrosse Officials Association.
Perzinski served as the Lynchburg College's full-time assistant coach the last two seasons before accepting a position as an assistant coach at Division I Richmond University. He spent four out of the last five years as the top assistant at LC, who recently competed for the 2015 Division III National Championship. During his time at Lynchburg the program compiled a 68-18 win-loss record and went to three NCAA tournaments.
A 2008 graduate of Lynchburg, Perzinski was a two-time captain, earning third-team All-American and first-team all-conference honors for the Hornets. He was also a North-South Game participant and earned VaSID All-State honors. Following his collegiate playing career, Perzinski was the first captain of the Polish National Lacrosse team that competed in the World Games of 2010 in Manchester England, and 2014 in Denver, Colorado.
For more information on ODAC men's lacrosse, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.