Eastern Connecticut State University

Frederick V. “Rick” McCarthy’s remarkable success rate was not confined to the lacrosse field. A winner of an astounding 83 percent of his matches as the first head coach in the history of the program, McCarthy’s indelible mark on the record books might only be overshadowed by the positive influence he exerted upon his student-athletes. A total of 122 athletes lettered at least one season under McCarthy. Among his letterwinners, 22 of them went on to four-careers, with each of those 22 four-year letterwinners eventually earning their undergraduate degrees. Ten additional players also went on to four-year careers at Eastern after playing at least one season under McCarthy. A native of Marblehead, Mass. and a long-time resident of Stonington, McCarthy directed the men’s and women’s lacrosse club programs in 1995 before both were elevated to varsity status in 1996. While serving as a full-time member of the administrative staff, McCarthy coached the men’s program to a seven-year record of 91 wins and 19 losses in a ‘part-time’ capacity. In the Pilgrim League and Little East Conference, McCarthy’s teams won 32 of 33 regular-season matches and nine of ten post-season contests. The Warriors won four straight regular-season and three league playoff titles in the Pilgrim League before winning all 16 of their matches en route to two regular-season and playoff titles in two years of LEC men’s lacrosse play in 2001 and 2002. At Thomas Nevers Field, McCarthy’s teams won 47 and lost two, capturing their last 30 straight. At Eastern, McCarthy recruited a large number of non-traditional student-athletes to the program – individuals whose initial college experiences elsewhere did not materialize, or individuals who had initially chosen to enter the work force rather than attend college. By providing structure and a personal concern and demanding a commitment to themselves, their teammates and the University, McCarthy set a countless number of his young men on the road to productive lives and careers.