Mike Carbery, who enters his ninth season as head coach at Hilbert College during the 2025-26 academic year, has been recognized at every level for his commitment to his team and sport.
After garnering Coach of the Year honors in the North Eastern Athletic Conference, and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, in addition to Section IV High School level, Carbery was inducted into the USA Lacrosse Western NY Branch Hall of Fame in February 2024.
Carbery was named the Hilbert College Sal Buscaglia Coach of the Year at the conclusion of his eighth season at the helm in 2025. He guided the Hawks to the program's first-ever appearance in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship Game, while mentoring five All-Conference selections, including the Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Hilbert closed the 2025 season with a 5-8 overall record and a 1-2 mark in AMCC play. As the No. 3 seed, the Hawks delivered a thrilling 7-6 overtime win against Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC semifinals, before falling to top-seeded Alfred State in the title match. The team set a new single-season program record with 12.00 caused turnovers per game, and led the AMCC in fewest goals allowed, lowest goals-against average, and save percentage.
Carbery, along with assistant coaches Seth Gregg and
Matthew Kennedy, helped three players earn AMCC Player of the Week honors during the season and guided seniors Giffin Miller (Co-Defensive Player of the Year),
Joey DiMaria,
Jason Sage, and
Mason Shehadi as well as junior
Kristopher Newman to AMCC All-Conference honors.
Carbery's 2024 Hawks, playing an independent schedule for only the second time in program history, kept scores closer than ever before against teams who traditionally ran away with wins against Hilbert. The Hawks finished 3-7 overall, earned two lopsided wins over La Roche in addition to a home victory against SUNY Cobleskill. Senior Joseph Gorman graduated as the program's all-time leader in Caused Turnovers (92) and CTO/game (2.49) and was ranked #4 in Division III in CTO per game (3.60).
The 2023 Hawks battled with a limited bench through a tough season, but the team still qualified for the postseason tournament with a 2-3 United East Conference record. No. 4 Hilbert fell to the eventual champions St. Mary's College (MD) in the semifinal game and concluded the year at 3-9. Junior defender Joseph Gorman landed on the First Team All-UEC while sophomore midfielder Ryan Davis and junior defender Ryan Fitch earned Second Team recognition.
Carbery led the 2022 Hawks back to the post-season tournament for the fourth time in his sixth year, though the 2020 season / post season tournament was canceled. In its first full season, with limited restrictions, Hilbert went 3-3 in United East Conference action and qualified as the 4th seed in the four-team postseason tournament. Hilbert battled the eventual UEC Champions, No.1 Morrisville State in the semifinal game and closed the season with a 4-7 overall record. Senior Travis Kilanowski earned his second All-Conference nod, joining senior Michael Anzalone and sophomore Joseph Gorman on the UEC Second Team.
The world-wide Coronavirus pandemic that shuttered the campus in March 2020 continued to impact the spring 2021 lacrosse season. Hilbert's schedule was reduced to three league games and one non-conference contest due to 10-day pauses in practice and competition. The Hawks earned a home win against Elmira and then won their first league victory against Wells. Hilbert was forced into a 14-day Covid-pause before battling Morrisville State April 17. They then entered another 2-week stoppage and ran out of time, losing the ability to play the league game against Medaille. The Hawks traveled to Penn College May 1st but were forced to cancel their NEAC semifinal game against No. 2 Penn, again due to another positive-Covid test result. Sophomore Liam Doyle and senior Ryan Spath were named to the NEAC 1st Team All-Conference and Covid-sophomore Travis Kilanowski earned a spot on the 3rd Team.
During the 2020 shortened season, the Hawks experienced great success going 3-1 in the four games they were able to play. Seniors James Chadwick and Edward Mathias finished in the Top 12 nationally in scoring at 7.75 and 6.50 points per game respectively. The Hawks were dominant on both sides of the field, finishing 2nd in the NEAC in goals per game (15.00), while finishing 3rd in goals against average (11.00). The 2020 squad was on the verge of being in NEAC title contention, while Mathias was on pace to break every significant career scoring record in program history before getting shut down for the season. The Hawks were equally impressive in the classroom, as they earned the 2020 AMCC Team Peak Performer Award for having the highest cumulative grade-point average (3.037) of all men's lacrosse programs in the AMCC.
In 2019, Carbery's Hawks moved through a rebuilding year after losing his defensive core to graduation in May 2018. Hilbert finished the year at 6-7 and fell short of making the NEAC postseason with a 3-4 record. Edward Mathias (1st), James Duffy (2nd), Devin White-Kearns (3rd) and Elijah Ryan (3rd) were all named to a NEAC All-Conference team.
As well, the Hawks went 3-0 in AMCC action, their secondary conference, and claimed the program’s second AMCC regular-season championship after earning lop-sided wins over La Roche and Medaille before outlasting Alfred State. Hilbert dominated the 4-team AMCC All-Conference team with Mike Carbery garnering the Coach of the Year honor while James Duffy and Drew Werner were named Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. Elijah Ryan, Edward Mathias, Devin White-Kearns, Marc O'Neill and Daniel Flynn also joined Duffy on the AMCC 1st Team All-Conference.
Carbery’s 2018 Hawks qualified for the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) postseason tournament by closing the spring season on a six-game win streak with a 6-2 league record (9-5 overall). The No. 3 Hawks dropped an 8-4 loss at No. 2 Bryn Athyn (7-1) but battled back from a 5-0 hole in the first half and outscored the Lions 4-3 by the final horn. For only the second time in the program's history, seven Hilbert players were voted to one of the three NEAC All-Conference teams. Edward Mathias, Austin Good, and Tyler Balsavage were all slotted on the 1st Team while James Duffy and Travis Hicks were picked to the 2nd Team. Marc O'Neill and Ryan Spath were recognized as 3rd Team All-Conference players.
Hilbert also grabbed seven honors in the Hawks secondary conference, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Because the AMCC had only five institutions who sponsored men's lacrosse in 2018, only one All-Conference team was selected. Balsavage, Mathias, O'Neill, Good, Duffy, Hicks and Joseph Stevenson were honored by the four other league coaches. Ryan Spath was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Prior to his arrival at Hilbert, Carbery helped build the Buffalo Lacrosse Academy (BLA). He continues to serve as the Director, overseeing all lacrosse operations. The BLA was created in 2005 to serve as a bridge between local athletes and college programs to showcase men's lacrosse talent as he builds youth, club, and post collegiate programs up to be the gold standard in Western New York
Previously, Carbery served as an assistant athletic director and head men's lacrosse coach at Medaille College from 1999 until September 2014. As an administrator, Carbery wore almost every hat in the Mavericks' athletic department. His spent a majority of his time as the Sports Information Director but also served as the NCAA Compliance Officer and ran the department's Academic Monitoring and Support program in addition to serving as an Event and Equipment Manager.
Carbery was Medaille's first head coach having organized the men's lacrosse program in their first season of competition in 2000. He was named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Coach of the Year in 2014 and coached a two-time NEAC Player of the Year/Offensive Player of the Year as well as 20+ players who earned NEAC All-Conference honors.
Prior to Medaille he was the first varsity coach at Canisius High School from 1995-1999 and was named the Section VI Coach of the Year after leading his Crusaders to the Monsignor Martin Lacrosse title in 1999.
Carbery was a standout goalie at Fayetteville-Manlius High School and became a four-year starter at Canisius College. He was named the Division I team's Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of his sophomore campaign and the Griffs’ Defensive Player of the Year his senior year.
Carbary and his wife Michelle are proud parents of Hannah and Aidan.
Carbery also serves as the NCAA Compliance Coordinator for Hilbert Athletics.
