Former SU men’s lacrosse coach John Desko to be inducted into Ring of Honor
Former Syracuse men’s lacrosse coach John Desko will be inducted into SU’s Ring of Honor on April 11. Desko spent four decades with the Orange as an assistant and head coach. Daily Orange File Photo
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Former Syracuse men’s lacrosse coach John Desko will be inducted into SU’s Ring of Honor on April 11 when the Orange take on Virginia, the program announced Tuesday. Desko spent four decades with Syracuse, first as an assistant under Roy Simmons Jr. and then as head coach from 1999-2001.
Desko has coached in all 10 of Syracuse’s national championships. The first five came as an assistant, before stewarding the next five in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Syracuse won 260 games under his leadership, missing the NCAA Tournament once in his 22-year tenure. The Orange also clinched 10 Final Four appearances during that time as well.
“It’s unbelievable to think that my name is going to be up there on the Ring with the names that are already up there,” Desko said in a press release on Cuse.com. “I’m still trying to take that in. I have a real appreciation for where the program was when I came to Syracuse as a student-athlete and where it reached.”
The 68-year old spent nearly two thirds of his life at Syracuse, dating back to when he suited up for the Orange in 1976. As a player, Desko was a crucial part of changing the culture under Simmons Jr. The Orange won 10 games in both his junior and senior seasons, and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 1979.
Immediately after finishing his playing career, Desko joined Simmons Jr’s staff as an assistant. He remained with the program until he retired in 2021, making way for Gary Gait to take over as SU’s head coach.
Desko finished as the third-most successful postseason coach in college lacrosse history. His five national championships only rank behind Bill Tierney, though Simmons Jr. won a sixth title in 1990 that was later vacated. Desko was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2020. Now, he’ll get honored in the JMA Wireless Dome during SU’s marquee matchup against Virginia in April.
