Anthony LePore is entering his sixth season as head coach of the Lander men’s lacrosse program. LePore became the Bearcats’ first men’s lacrosse coach when he was hired in July 2018.
LePore led his squad to another dominant season in 2024, finishing 12-4 overall and winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year. Under LePore, four athletes were named to the All-Tournament Team, and Kyle DeCrispino was named Tournament MVP.
Under the unified leadership of head coach LePore, the 2024 season was marked by numerous individual accomplishments. Several athletes were honored on the PBC All-Conference teams, with three on the first team and four on the second team. Kyle DeCrispino, James Linn, and Britton Weems received Honorable Mention on the USILA All-Region team. Carter Wilcox's exceptional performance earned him a spot on the third team USILA All-Region and the prestigious All-American title.
The Bearcats reached new highs in 2023 under LePore. Going 13-4 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the PBC. the Bearcats claimed their first PBC regular season and tournament title in program history. LePore's squad was the No. 1 seed and defeated Flagler College at Van Taylor Stadium on 14-11 on May 6.
He was also named the PBC Coach of The Year for the first time in 2023 while Adam Mather was named the conference's Player of The Year for the second straight season. Loagn Ellis won the Elite 16 award while James Linn, Carter Wilcox and Nicholas Paige were named to the All-Conference First Team while Kyle DeCrispino was named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Mather would also become the program's first All-American while being named to the USILA's All-Region South Second team in 2023. Mather was also invited to the 2023 Div. I & II Senior All-Star Game in 2023.
Lepore's Bearcats were one of the leading forces in the conference in numerous categories in 2023. Lander led the PBC in goals scored, goals scored per game, fewest goals allowed, total assists, assists per game, scoring margin, total points, points per game, shots per game, shot percentage, shots on goal, shots on goal per game, save percentage, goals against average, caused turnovers, total clears, fewest penalty minutes, fewest turnovers and fewest turnovers per game.
The Bearcats went 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the PBC under LePore in his third season leading the Bearcats. Lander was ranked top 20 in Div. II in assists, assists per game, caused turnovers per game, clearing percentage, ground balls, ground balls per game, opp. clearing percentage, points, saves, scoring defense, scoring margin, scoring offense and shot percentage. Adam Mather and James Linn were named to the 2022 USILA Div. II South All-Region Team. Mather was named also named the PBC Player of The Year and All-PBC team while Carter Wilcox was named the PBC Freshman of The Year. Linn, Krew Conroy, Quinn Ingalls and Alex Ellis were all named to the All-PBC team as well.
In LePore's second season, Lander earned the No. 3 seed in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The Bearcats ranked fifth nationally in man-down defense, sixth in ground balls per game, and 22nd in clearing percentage. Krew Conroy, Quinn Ingalls, James Linn, and Adam Mather were named to the all-PBC team and Lander won the league's Team Sportsmanship Award.
The Bearcats won four of the program's first six contests during the shortened 2020 campaign. Lander led the nation in ground balls per game, while ranking 12th in assists per game, 16th in points per game, 17th in scoring offense, 18th in man-up offense, 21st in caused turnovers per game, and 25th in shot percentage.
LePore came to Lander from Belmont Abbey, where he served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator, while also assisting with game and practice planning, player development, academic development and recruiting.
In his four seasons at Belmont Abbey (2015-18), LePore helped guide the program to 49 wins in four seasons, advancing to the Conference Carolinas championship game in 2017 and 2018, and winning the 2018 Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament championships. During this time, the Belmont Abbey program was consistently ranked in the top-20 in the USILA Coaches poll and Lacrosse Magazine Media poll.
At Belmont, LePore mentored 22 All-Conference Selections, nine USILA All-American Selections, and four Conference Player of the Year selections. Additionally, LePore coached two National Lacrosse League (N.L.L.) first-round draft choices with Connor Sellars (2016 – 10th overall selection by the Georgia Swarm) and Adam Weidemann (2018 – 8th overall selection by the Georgia Swarm). In each of his four seasons as the architect of the Belmont Abbey offense, the Crusaders consistently ranked in the top-10 in the nation in scoring offense, shooting percentage, extra-man offense, and clearing percentage.
In his first season at Belmont Abbey, LePore helped guide the program to its best-ever record at 11-5, while coaching the first USILA All-American in program history. Six Crusaders were named to all-conference, including the Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year.
The following year, 2016, Belmont Abbey would go on to establish another school record for wins with a record of 12-4, maintaining a Top 20 ranking in both the USILA Coaches Poll and Nike/Lax Magazine Poll for the entire season. LePore would guide the third-ranked scoring offense in the nation (14.5 goals per game) and the No. 6-ranked man-up offensive unit (converting at a 44% clip).
LePore joined the Crusaders in the fall of 2014 after a successful stint on the staff at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. At Marymount University, LePore coached the face-off unit and was co-offensive coordinator, helping the Saints to their first winning season (9-8) since 2001 and a berth in the ECAC playoffs.
Prior to Marymount, LePore served as head men's lacrosse coach at Northern Virginia Community College for two seasons. At NOVA, he was chartered with transitioning the team from a club to varsity program and member of the NJCAA. He guided NOVA in their final season of club play in 2012 and first season as an NJCAA varsity program in 2013. In doing so, he brought in the program's first recruiting class, claimed its first NJCAA victories, and coached the program's first All-Region XX players.
Before NOVA, LePore spent 10 seasons at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va., serving as a social studies teacher and head boys lacrosse coach. At Stonewall, he guided the Raiders to two district championships, six regional playoff appearances, coached two US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans, 17 All-Region selections, 63 All-District selections, and left as the program's all-time winningest head coach. In his final season at Stonewall, he was recognized by the News & Messenger as the 2011 all-area Coach of the Year after guiding his team to a 12-5 record and capturing the Cedar Run District Tournament Championship.
LePore also served as the associate director of the Commonwealth Lacrosse Camp hosted by Capital Lacrosse and has coached numerous travel and local club teams.
Originally from Rochester, N.Y., LePore played collegiately at The Citadel and earned his undergraduate degree in 1999 before closing out his career at SUNY Geneseo while earning a graduate degree in secondary education in 2001.
LePore lives with his wife, Danielle, and daughter, Leah and Gigi.
