GETTYSBURG, Pa. – An integral part of the Gettysburg College men's lacrosse program for eight years, assistant coach Tommy Pearce '01 has been named the head men's lacrosse coach at Frostburg State University, FSU director of athletics Troy Dell has announced.

Starting in 2011, Pearce will direct the first varsity men's lacrosse team to take the field at Frostburg in 33 years. The university offered the sport from 1970-78.

Pearce has served as an assistant coach at Gettysburg in each of the last four years. He also enjoyed a standout career as a midfielder for the Bullets from 1998-2001.

“I am honored to be chosen by Frostburg State University to restart its lacrosse program,” said Pearce in an FSU press release. “I am eager and excited to get to work on all aspects of preparing for the 2011 season and becoming a part of Frostburg's campus community.”

During his stint as an assistant coach, Pearce helped guide the Bullets to a 66-12 (29-3 Centennial Conference) record, four straight Centennial Conference titles, and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III semifinals in 2008-09, including a national championship game berth this past season. He coached 20 all-Americans, including six in 2009.

The team's offensive coordinator, Pearce helped the Bullets lead the Centennial Conference in scoring in each of the last four years. Following the 2008 season, he received the Division III Outstanding Assistant Coach award by the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Association.

“I'd like to thank Gettysburg College and everyone there for teaching me what it means to be a Division III student-athlete for four years and then what it means to coach Division III student-athletes for another four years,” added Pearce. “ I am confident that what I learned there has prepared me to take on this exciting challenge of reestablishing Frostburg men's lacrosse and furthering their success in the future.”
Pearce will work under a fellow Gettysburg alum in Dell, a 1995 graduate who served as an assistant athletic director from 2003-07 and was the Bullets wrestling coach for 10 years from 1997-2007.

“I'm excited to welcome [Pearce] to Frostburg State University. He was selected out of a very competitive national applicant pool,” said Dell. “He has played and coached at the highest level of Division III men's lacrosse and is prepared to build a recruiting base and a playing style that will attract some of the best talent in lacrosse to Frostburg. I'm confident that he has the right level of experience and success to lead our men's lacrosse program.”

As a player, Pearce was a two-time all-American and in 2001 was named Centennial Conference Player of the Year and Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region Player of the Year. The Chestertown, Md. native helped the Bullets win four consecutive conference titles, and as a team captain in 2001, guided Gettysburg to its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III national championship game.