Head Coach Ray Rostan
(211-111 at H-SC--243-136 all-time)

In 28 years as a college head coach, the last 22 at Hampden-Sydney, lacrosse coach Ray        Rostan has established himself as one of the most respected coaches in the country. In 2002, Rostan served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Lacrosse Team which won the World Lacrosse Championships in Perth, Australia. Rostan was the 1998 and 1989 recipient of the Francis “Babe” Kraus Memorial Award, after being voted the national coach of the year by his peers as he became the first Division III coach to be honored with the award twice.

In addition to national honors, Rostan has been voted Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year four times, most recently in 2001. Last season, Rostan’s 2004 senior class made history as they tied the school record for career victories with 44 wins and earned three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2003, Rostan led the Tiger lacrosse team to national heights as the Tigers finished the season ranked seventh in the nation. The 2003 Tigers finished with a 12-3 overall mark, completed the ODAC regular season undefeated for the second straight year and advanced into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament with a 10-8 victory over then-third-ranked Washington College.

Rostan’s seventh NCAA appearance came during the 2002 season as he led the Tigers to a 13-3 record and a No. 3 ranking in the final poll of the regular season. The team completed a 6-0 record against ODAC competition during the regular season and hosted the first-ever ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Championship game. 

Rostan reached the significant milestone of winning his 200th college game in April of 2002 in a victory over Washington and Lee. In April of 1996, Rostan recorded his 100th victory while the head coach at Hampden-Sydney. He now has 228 collegiate victories, 191 at H-SC, and is third nationally among NCAA Division III coaches in all-time victories. His teams have reached the NCAA Tournament seven times.

During the past six years, Rostan’s teams have won 63 games, two ODAC Championships and participated in four NCAA Tournaments. Since 1998, 27 student-athletes have received All-American honors, including four on the first team, along with two Academic All-Americans. In 1998, Jamie Worthen was named the Division III National Player of the Year at defense, while Rostan’s son, Jason, garnered USILA First Team All-America and ODAC Player of the Year accolades in 2002.

In addition to coaching duties, Rostan has been a member of several national committees. He chaired of the Men’s U.S.I.L.A. North-South Senior All-Star Game and he is serving on the Committee for Coaching Ethics sponsored by US Lacrosse. He recently completed a five-year commitment as a member of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Committee, as well as ten years on the Division III All-America committee.

In 2003, Rostan was named Assistant Athletic Director for Hampden-Sydney College. It is his third title in his 23 years of service to the College, along with coaching the water polo team through the early-90’s and coaching the lacrosse team, which he took over in 1985.

The Copiague (Long Island), New York native earned his B.S. in 1973 from Cortland State, and his M.S. from Ithaca College in 1977. A collegiate attackman, Rostan was a member of the 1973 Cortland State national championship team. He later played professional indoor lacrosse for the National Lacrosse League Champion Rochester Griffins, then for the Long Island Tomahawks. 

Rostan and his wife Karen have two children, Jamie (22) and Jason (25). Jason, a 2003 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College was a two-time USILA All- American for the Tiger lacrosse team as well as the ODAC Player of the Year in 2003. Jason has returned to Hampden- Sydeny and joins his father on the sideline as the Tigers’ assistant lacrosse coach. Coach Rostan’s daughter, Jamie, graduated from the University of Mary Washington (2005) and is presently residing in Denver, Colorado.

Career Highlights

• 2002 USA Team Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator
• 2002 USA Team I.L.F. World Champions
• USILA National Coach of the Year: 1989, 1998
• ODAC Coach of the Year: 1989, 1995, 1998, 2001
• ODAC Champions: 1989, 1995, 1998, 2001
• NCAA Tournament: 1989, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
• Top 20-Year-End Ranking: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• NCAA Quarter Finalists: 1999, 2003

 

Rostan Ledger

All-Time Results at H-SC
Year Record Ranking
1985 6-6 --
1986 9-4 12th
1987 9-5 11th
1988 9-5 10th
1989 11-3 7th
1990 7-6 14th
1991 9-6 --
1992 7-7 --
1993 6-7 --
1994 7-6 --
1995 10-5 7th
1996 10-4 16th
1997 8-7 16th
1998 12-2 3rd
1999 11-4 9th
2000 8-6 --
2001 11-4 7th
2002 13-3 6th
2003 12-3 7th
2004 8-5 17th
2005 8-5 16th
2006 8-5 14th
2007 12-3 13th

Totals at Hampden-Sydney: 211-111
Overall Totals/28 years: 243-136

Photos:
Middle: Coach Rostan celebrates Team USA’s victory in the I.L.F. World Championships in 2002. Bottom: The Rostan Family (clockwise from top left), Chris Bissinger, Ray Rostan, Karen Rostan, Jamie Rostan and Jason Rostan.