RINDGE, N.H. (July 16, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University has named Rick Senatore as head coach of men's lacrosse and women's cross country. The announcement was made today by Bruce Kirsh, Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University, and confirmed by President Dr. James Birge.

"I am very pleased to name Rick Senatore as the new head men's lacrosse and women's cross country coach at Franklin Pierce," said Kirsh. "Rick has shown an impressive ability to produce winning teams at both of his previous coaching stops and look forward to him bringing that successful formula to the Ravens."

Senatore comes to Franklin Pierce following three years at fellow Northeast-10 Conference member Saint Anselm College. He turned a program which posted a 3-11 record the year prior to his arrival into a program which earned NE-10 Tournament bids each of his three seasons - culminating with the Hawks first NE-10 semifinal appearance since 2002 this spring. Senatore posted a 22-22 (.500) record overall in his three years at Saint Anselm, including a 15-13 (.536) mark in Conference play.

"I am looking forward to the challenge ahead here at Franklin Pierce with both the lacrosse and cross country programs," said Senatore. "The administration is committed to elevating the programs to the levels of success that have been achieved in other sports at the University and I am very thankful for being chosen to lead the way."

Senatore has led Saint Anselm to winning records both overall and in NE-10 play each of the last two seasons, posting identical 8-7 clips in 2008 and 2009, along with 6-4 and 5-4 marks in the conference, respectively. He was honored by his peers following his first season with NE-10 Coach of the Year honors after the Hawks won four of their last five games, including the first two wins over nationally-ranked programs in school history, and was selected to coach the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-Star Game.

Over his three years at Saint Anselm, ten Hawks were named All-New England, five All-Northeast-10, four selected for the NEILA Senior All-Star Game and one picked to the NE-10 All-Academic team. Senatore is also active within the NEILA, serving as Division II Poll Committee Leader and Academic All-New England Committee Leader.

Prior to taking over at Saint Anselm, Senatore served three years as head boy's lacrosse coach at Hopkinton High School. He started the program in 2004 at the junior varsity level, competing at the varsity level for the first time in 2005. In the program's second year at the varsity level, the Hawks posted a 12-4 record and advanced to the semifinals of the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) Division III. Senatore was named Coach of the Year in the NHIAA and selected to coach the New Hampshire Senior All-Star Team for his efforts.

Senatore is co-founder and director of Granite State Lacrosse, which operates a series of camps, indoor leagues and the New Hampshire Tomahawks Elite Lacrosse Club out of Bedford, N.H.

Senatore is a 1991 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where he played under legendary coach Dick Garber. He was a four-year starting midfielder and helped the Minutemen to four straight NCAA Division I Tournament appearances and a Top 10 national ranking in each of those seasons. Senatore was a team captain, named to the All-New England team and was selected to play in the NEILA Senior All-Star Game.

A native of Lindenhurst, N.Y., Senatore played on the prestigious Long Island Empire State Team and was selected to try out for the U-19 US National Team. He currently resides in Bedford with his wife, Valerie, and their two.

Senatore takes over a Franklin Pierce program which has yet to enjoy a winning season since the University added the sport at the varsity level in 1998. The Ravens are coming off a season in which it posted a 1-11 record overall, 1-8 in the Northeast-10.