By Justin DiBiase

Staff reporter

Earlier this summer there was a changing of the guard in the Villanova men’s lacrosse family. Head coach Randy Marks announced his resignation on June 7 from the position he held for 24 years. During his time at Villanova, Marks compiled 179 wins and 142 losses.

Many highlights of Marks’ career have come within the past few seasons. In 2003 he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a 10-5 record. Marks also saw his team garner the No. 14 ranking in the nation after the completion of the 2004 season in which Villanova won 12 games. His team recorded winning seasons in 13 of his 24 seasons on the Main Line.

Marks has also done an impressive job of developing individual talent. Five of his players have earned the distinction of USILA Honorable Mention All-American, and 22 Wildcats were selected as all-conference performers. He has also coached two CAA players of the year, and 16 of his Wildcats played in the North/South All-Star Game. His most recent Wildcat success story was recent graduate Joe Canuso, who was drafted by Major League Lacrosse’s Philadelphia Barrage over the summer.

Replacing Marks will be his former player and longtime assistant, Michael Corrado. Corrado held the title of associate head coach during the 2006 season. He has been an integral part of the lacrosse program during his time at Villanova, implementing new defensive strategies and serving as the program’s recruitment coordinator. Corrado’s defensive coaching efforts led Villanova to a 7.13 goalsagainst average last season, which was fourth in the nation. Corrado graduated from Villanova in 1987 after being a four-year starting defenseman for Marks. He was the University’s Rookie of the Year in his freshman season in 1984 and Most Valuable Player in his senior season in 1987. In November of 2005, Corrado became only the fourth men’s lacrosse player to be inducted into the Villanova Varsity Hall of Fame.

“Michael has been an integral part of the Villanova men’s lacrosse program for many years,” said Athletic Director Vince Nicastro. “We are excited to turn over the leadership of the program to him. Michael has demonstrated that he is an outstanding teacher of the game, recruiter and leader of young men. We are genuinely excited about the future of Villanova lacrosse.”

Corrado also was an all-county performer in lacrosse before his college days for New York’s Islip High School. Joining the new head coach on the sidelines will his college teammate and fifth-year assistant coach John Derham as well as new volunteer assistant coach Matt Lucas.