A day after Jeff Tambroni was named the head men's lacrosse coach at Penn State (June 17), Cornell announced his successor: associate head coach Ben DeLuca '98.

DeLuca becomes the 10th head coach in men's lacrosse, replacing Tambroni, who has spent a decade directing the Cornell program.

"I couldn't be more thrilled than to name Ben DeLuca as our new Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse," said Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. "Ben is a terrific coach and leader of young men, but most importantly he is the person that we as a university and lacrosse community most want to represent our program. This is a happy day for Cornell lacrosse, and I know Ben will pour his heart and soul into this terrific opportunity."

During DeLuca's time as both an assistant and associate head coach at Cornell, the Big Red has advanced to three final fours in the past four seasons, including a spot in the national championship game in 2009.

In total, DeLuca has spent 16 years at Cornell, including four years as a player for the Big Red before serving as an assistant coach for two seasons. After being away from Ithaca for two years, DeLuca returned prior to the 2002 season and was promoted to the top assistant position under Tambroni in summer 2003. He became the first Mario St. George Boiardi Assistant Coach of Men's Lacrosse the following year and was promoted to associate head coach following the 2007 season.

Since rejoining the coaching staff in 2002, DeLuca has helped the Big Red to an undefeated regular season (13-0), six 11-win seasons, a pair of nine-win seasons and eight Ivy League titles.

Tambroni leaves Cornell with a record of 109-40 -- the second-most wins in program history. He led the Big Red to eight Ivy League titles, and the 2010 campaign marked the eighth time that Cornell advanced to the NCAA tournament during his tenure, making it to the quarterfinal round six times, the semifinals three times and the national championship game once.

Over the last six seasons, Tambroni has led Cornell to the heights of Division I lacrosse, boasting the third-highest winning percentage of all Division I teams during that span (.777) and ranking third in number of victories (73).

The Big Red concluded the 2010 season with a 12-6 record after seeing its improbable run to the national semifinal ended by Notre Dame.