Pace Athletics continues to mourn the loss of longtime coach and founder of the men's lacrosse program,
Dan Mulholland, who recently
passed away at the age of 76.
"The Mulholland name is synonymous with Pace Lacrosse; not only because he started the program but also for the generations of young men he mentored over the years," said Pace's Director of Athletics, Mark Brown. "He was iconic, a Hall of Famer and a true gentleman. His legacy will live on because of the positive impact he had on so many. Rest peacefully, Coach."
After starting the Pace men's lacrosse team in 1983 and moving the squad to varsity in 1986, Mulholland was a father figure to every player to come through the program during his tenure. In 14 years as a varsity coach, Mulholland earned a record of 104-77 from 1986 to 1999. Mulholland was inducted into the
Pace Athletics Hall of Fame in the spring of 2018.
"We mourn the passing of our beloved Coach
Dan Mulholland," said Pace Men's Lacrosse Head Coach,
Tom Mariano. "Mully made an impact on so many of us and will be missed. We all stand on his shoulders as he built this program. We will miss Mully greatly."
Before coming to Pace, Mulholland played varsity lacrosse at SUNY Brockport from 1965 to 1967. Following graduation, he spent the next decade coaching throughout high schools across Westchester County. Mulholland oversaw players at Yorktown, Ardsley, Sleepy Hollow, and Peekskill High Schools from 1970 to 1982.
The Setters showed success under Mulholland during his entire coaching tenure, winning six or more games every season from 1989 to 1999. In 1996, the Setters went 11-3 under Mulholland, which remains the second-best winning percentage in program history at .786. Pace compiled a 10-game win streak that season, outscoring opponents 181-98 over the course of the year.
Two years later, Mulholland coached the 1998 team to an NE10 regular season championship, finishing 10-5 overall. The 1998 Setters scored almost 100 more goals than the opposition (223-129), and won eight games by ten or more tallies
The following year, Mulholland led the Setters to the best season in the program's history, finishing the year 14-1 and as NE10 Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions. The Setters were ranked No. 1 in the nation throughout most of the season and became the first Pace team to defeat a ranked opponent. Mulholland was named both NE10 and Division II National Coach of the Year in 1999 following the team's vast success.
Mulholland, who also spent nine years as an assistant coach (1984-1993) with the Setter football team, returned to the Pace men's lacrosse sidelines in 2014 as a volunteer assistant coach. Former players described Mulholland as a player's coach, a father figure and a man with a love for the game and every player to ever suit up for him.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions be made to the Pace Athletics Men's Lacrosse program. Donations can be made through
www.pace.edu/settersclub. Make sure to include to designate men's lacrosse in the appropriate boxes.
