Duke lacrosse adds former Cornell coach DeLuca to staff

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

DURHAM, N.C.— Duke Blue Devils men’s lacrosse head coach John Danowski announced on Wednesday the addition of Ben DeLuca to the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2014 season.

DeLuca joins the defending NCAA-champion Blue Devils after leading the Cornell Big Red men’s lacrosse program and will work closely with Duke’s defensive unit.

As a player, he was a four-year letterwinner on defense for the Big Red, including becoming a captain in his senior year during which he was voted the team’s outstanding senior athlete for his leadership and dedication on and off the field.

DeLuca earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional sciences and biochemistry in 1998 and then eventually moved into an assistant coaching role that began his coaching career with the Big Red.

Over a period of 13 years he moved up the coaching ranks and eventually earned the head coaching position at Cornell.

In that role for the past three years he guided the Big Red to an overall record of 37-11, a 16-2 mark in Ivy League play, and ultimately two conference titles.

His teams also earned two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 2013 season that saw his team earn the No. 2 position in the national rankings while going undefeated in Ivy League play.

Last season was DeLuca’s best leading Cornell as it advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling to the eventual champion Blue Devils.

He joins the Duke staff as its makes its final preparations to start the 2014 season against the Jacksonville Dolphins at Koskinen Stadium on Saturday at 1.pm.