STORRS, Conn. – Paul Scordato, the head men’s lacrosse coach at UConn since 2011, is stepping down after four seasons with the Huskies. Marc Paolini, an assistant under Scordato for the last three seasons, and the team’s Defensive Coordinator, has been promoted to Head Coach.

"My time and experience with the team, coaches, parents and alumni over the years has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life,” said Scordato. “I know for sure that as the years go by I will look back and be happy that I was part of such a great program and will be truly satisfied that I did everything I could to help it be a better program. I will always treasure the love and respect I developed with each player over the years. I will truly miss coaching the UConn Lacrosse Program.”

Scordato leaves UConn as the team’s winningest coach in the club era with a 36-18 record in four seasons. He produced an MCLA All-American in each of his four seasons as well as 26 All-Conference players, 2 Conference Offensive Players of the Year, 2 Defensive Players of the Year, 1 Rookie of the Year and was named the 2012 PCLL Coach of the Year.

On the field he led the program to a number of firsts; including the team’s first ever win over Boston College, first PCLL Championship, and first trip to the MCLA National Tournament. Off the field Scordato worked tirelessly to engage alumni and parents as well as bring speakers to campus that would inspire his players, most notably Captain Richard Phillips in 2014.

Succeeding Scordato will be Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator Marc Paolini. Paolini was a defensive standout at Daniel Hand High School located in Madison, CT as well as a team captain and three year starter. After high school Paolini went on to coach at his alma mater where he would be named Associate Head Coach. During Paolini's tenure at Daniel Hand the Tigers enjoyed several standout seasons including a 2006 team that went 20-2 and was ranked number two in the state.

Hired as an assistant coach in 2012 the UConn defense has seen marked improvement during Paolini’s tenure. He has produced multiple Defensive All-Conference Players, Defensive Players of the Year and All-Americans. Under Paolini UConn teams have consistently ranked near the top of the conference in Goals Against Average, highlighted by a 2013 season where the Huskies only allowed one opponent to score double digits in 14 games.

"I hope to build upon the work of Coach Scordato and continue to make our team something the alumni and university can be proud of,” said Paolini. "What the team did this past season was historic. We want to continue that success and turn it into a standard that we work towards every season."

Both Paolini and the players are looking forward to the next chapter of UConn Men’s Lacrosse. “In the past few years Coach Paolini has proven how much he cares about UConn Lacrosse,” said Senior Captain Jack Tesoriero . “We look forward to building on our previous success and having an even better 2016 season.”