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Ella Riorden and her former Syracuse teammates declared the “dads are back” in June 2025 after the Orange hired her father as head coach. Nobody outside the program knew what that meant, but Regy Thorpe was going to make each of his players feel worthy.

Eleven months later, as Thorpe graced the podium for the final time this season after an NCAA Tournament loss to Navy, he realized he’d gained 38 more daughters.

“Got a couple kids of my own,” Thorpe said, consoling Caroline Trinkaus and Emma Muchnick as they teared up beside him. “But you spend more time with these kids than your own kids.”

You can look at Thorpe’s revamped attack, which converted raw midfielders to new positions, or his defensive priorities as a former defender. But it’s his fatherly personality, paired with catchy mottos or inspiring projects, that helped Syracuse rebound from a program low under Kayla Treanor to a successful season one year later — albeit a similar result. In a 14-6 campaign, Thorpe brought out the fun in his team, which is exactly what it needs to build toward a national championship.

At the start of the season, the Orange created a vision board, where each player contributed “a piece of themself” through photos and mottos that symbolized their hopes for the year. Captains said Thorpe was in favor of them orchestrating the project.

One motto was “everyone eats,” reflecting a spread-out attack. Mackenzie Borbi recalls “don’t be casual,” which Thorpe said meant no opponent could be taken lightly, which rang true particularly during SU’s 0-3 start.

Regy Thorpe directs Emma Muchnick in Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament win over Loyola. In Thorpe’s first year as head coach, the Orange finished 14-6, bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor

It’s not a knock on any former coach. It’s just that Thorpe filled the role while adding his own unabashed, outré nuances.

“What keeps me coming back to coaching and love coaching every day or every start to the season is (it’s) like a puzzle,” Thorpe said. “You’re trying to put it together.”

Some pieces are bound to leave along the way. Top scorer Olivia Adamson transferred to Northwestern after playing under Treanor for four years. Starting defender Superia Clark left for Florida State. Draw specialist Meghan Rode departed for Richmond. But six freshmen recruited by Treanor stayed when Thorpe was hired.

When the Orange’s coaching search began, there were many options within the program, across central New York and elsewhere. Thorpe — SU’s associate head coach from 2010-19, men’s lacrosse defender from 1992-93 and an Elbridge, New York, native — brought both a local tie and an outside perspective as Florida’s associate head coach at the time.

As UF’s defensive coordinator, he guided it to back-to-back Championship Weekend appearances. It seemed Thorpe was always meant for the Orange’s job, considering he was hired just two and a half weeks after Treanor left.

When he began implementing changes on the field, defensive tactics were Syracuse’s engine. The Orange never had a coach with Thorpe’s defensive acumen. In practice, he creatively had Bri Peters impersonate North Carolina’s Chloe Humphrey before both matchups with the Tewaaraton Award frontrunner because they both wear No. 2.

Thorpe joined forces with defensive-minded coaches Maggie Koch and Caitlin Defliese Watkins to create a stifling defense reminiscent of the Seattle Seahawks’ 2013 Super Bowl-winning “Legion of Boom” unit. Everywhere you turned, there was a defender you couldn’t escape.

SU held its opponents to single digits for 12 straight contests, most of which came during a 12-game win streak. Thorpe would be the first to tell you his squad was “immune” to losing close games, too. Yet he deserves the credit, as these same players couldn’t get the job done last year.

Syracuse’s offense was more impressive because it roused later in the season. That’s thanks to Thorpe hiring Nicole Levy — an SU legend and former Florida assistant — as offensive coordinator and switching Molly Guzik and Mackenzie Rich from midfielders to attacks.

Guzik’s goal total increased from 14 in 2025 to 44 in 2026. When asked what changed, she mentioned the increased trust from Thorpe and Co.

“It didn’t really feel like the lacrosse I’ve known to play,” Guzik said, reflecting on last season.

“(The Syracuse coaches) give you all the confidence that you need as a player. Anything and everything that you could want as a player,” she said of this year.

Guzik enjoyed having someone to watch film with. She never hesitated to enter Thorpe or Levy’s office to ask questions. Emma Ward, a program great, also assisting as an offensive coach proved crucial. Guzik said she sent Ward clip lists every day to review.

Wins were too narrow for the average fan’s liking, but Thorpe saw value in close games and added a situational segment to practices once they became a trend, he said. SU’s 12-game win streak ended with six of its last seven games decided by two goals or fewer. But its players embraced the gritty defensive identity that stemmed from those contests.

“Dogfights” was a word Thorpe threw around after these games. He often said the Orange didn’t play a full 60 minutes and ensured they didn’t become complacent after large wins.

Thorpe clearly changed the way his players thought. Even through subtle dialogue, like “stood on her head,” players spoke in Thorpe’s jargon.

In the final result, not much changed, with a second consecutive NCAA Tournament Second Round exit.

Losing a successful coach like Treanor was a tough blow. But Thorpe embraced a completely different identity. It’s risky, but it worked.

That started with building culture on his first day on campus to retain previously-committed players. This season was a sneak peek of what Thorpe has in store. Syracuse belongs on Memorial Day weekend, and he’s laid the groundwork for its return.

Jason Glick is an Assistant Sports Editor at The Daily Orange, where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at jaglick@syr.edu or on X @jason_glick.

Published on May 15, 2026 at 1:43 am
Contact Jason: jaglick@syr.edu | @jason_glick