Associate Vice President for Student Life and Director of Athletics
Tim Seil announced the hiring of Randy Mearns as the next Head Men's Lacrosse Coach on August, 10th, 2026
Mearns arrives at Hilbert with more than four decades of experience in the sport as a player, coach, administrator, and educator. Widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in lacrosse, he brings an extensive background that spans NCAA Division I coaching, professional lacrosse, international competition, and national team leadership.
"We are excited to welcome Randy Mearns to Hilbert College," said Seil. "Having worked with Randy previously at Canisius, I know firsthand the respect he has earned throughout the lacrosse community, both regionally and internationally. His experience, leadership, and commitment to student-athlete development make him an outstanding addition to our department. We are confident he will have a tremendous impact on our men's lacrosse program and the overall student-athlete experience."
Mearns spent 27 seasons as a Division I head coach between Canisius University and St. Bonaventure University, building and leading successful programs while mentoring hundreds of student-athletes. During his collegiate coaching career, he guided teams to two NCAA Tournament appearances and established a reputation as a tireless recruiter, teacher, and program builder. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Mearns served on the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee from 2023-25 and served as the principal Coaching liaison to the A-10 and MAAC Men's Lacrosse Conferences.
His impact on the game extends far beyond the collegiate ranks. Mearns served as head coach of Team Canada at multiple World Lacrosse Championships, leading the Canadian men's national team to a gold medal in 2014 and a silver medal in 2018. He also contributed to Canadian national teams as a player, assistant coach, coordinator, consultant, and most recently as interim general manager of Canada's U20 national team that captured a gold medal at the 2025 World Championship. Mearns also served as head coach of the Greece Men's National Team and recently helped lead the St. Catharines Jr A Athletics to the OJLL Championship and a trip to the Minto Cup.
At the professional level, Mearns recently served as interim head coach of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. As a player, he enjoyed a decorated NLL career with the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, helping the Bandits capture the 1993 championship and serving as captain of Rochester's championship-winning team in 1997. Beyond the sidelines, he has remained a prominent voice in the sport as a longtime Buffalo Bandits color analyst.
A member of numerous halls of fame, including the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, St. Catharine's Sports Hall of Fame, Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Rochester Knighthawks Hall of Fame, Canisius University Sports Hall of Fame, and Western New York Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Mearns' contributions to lacrosse have been recognized across North America. His legacy within the sport was further cemented through the creation of the "Mearns Cup," established by the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League to honor his longstanding impact on the game.
"I would like to thank
Tim Seil and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity at Hilbert and I am very excited to build on the foundation set forth by Coach Carbery," said Mearns. "Mentoring and developing student-athletes has been a lifelong passion and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a dedicated administration and coaching staff alongside committed student-athletes to nurture a culture of daily excellence."
