Jim Stagnitta spent much of last season questioning why he’d ever agreed to coach the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team.

A year and a No. 10 national ranking have halted his questions, but Stagnitta knows Rutgers’ (8-2) game against No. 4 Syracuse (7-2) at 2:30 in the Carrier Dome tomorrow could bring them all back again.

In October of last year, Stagnitta left Washington & Lee, a small school in Virginia, where he developed a formidable Division III lacrosse program, to coach Rutgers.

Rather than qualify for the postseason, his team floundered at 2-12. Rather than stay with crowds that offered boundless support, Stagnitta left for a school where students are driven away more than enthralled by Scarlet Knight athletics.

‘We built a great program at Washington & Lee,’ Stagnitta said. ‘It was almost a flagship for the school. I’m glad I left when I did, even though there were times last year when I asked why I was here.”

Stagnitta may have hit a low point April 13 when the Scarlet Knights took on Syracuse in Piscataway, N.J.

Last year, the SU defense tied a season-best four goals allowed against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights failed to score more than once in any period. The Orangemen nearly doubled RU’s shot total and SU found ample time to play both its backup goalies.

While the Orangemen will be heavy favorites again, they can at least expect a stiffer test.

Stagnitta entered last season as RU’s third coach in three years. Two years earlier, longtime Rutgers coach Tom Hayes retired. The year after, his replacement, Bill Dirrigl, bolted for Loyola.

Stagnitta’s appointment brought Rutgers its third offensive and defensive systems during that span. At times last year, it seemed like Rutgers was playing a combination of three systems rather than one.

‘It was kind of a lost season,’ Stagnitta said. ‘You never want to look at it that way, but it was. After three coaches in three years, eventually the players just throw their hands up.’

Although Stagnitta admitted his team still has plenty of improvements to make, this year’s version is more talented, better physically prepared and more acutely attuned to the game.

Last year, the scrawny Scarlet Knights got bullied all over the field, losing players to injury and fatigue nearly each game. This year, most starters have added at least 10-15 pounds.

Despite the extra weight-room work, Stagnitta feels the biggest improvement has been the players adapting to RU’s read-and-react offense. Rather than run set pieces, Stagnitta emphasizes the ability to see the entire play and improvise.

‘It seems like they’re just out there playing good lacrosse,’ SU head coach John Desko said. ‘They look comfortable. They’ve had the same coach for a couple years.”

Stagnitta’s also brought an improved ability to recruit.

‘He’s a very engaging guy,’ Rutgers Senior Associate Athletic Director Joseph Quinlan said.

One day earlier this year, Quinlan found Stagnitta speaking with an unknown student. The next day, Stagnitta chatted with a secretary. The following day, he conversed with a custodian. After that, he made a speech to the board of trustees.

‘He can talk to anyone the same way,’ Quinlan said. ‘You have to understand, these are very important people around here.’

Stagnitta’s affability has paid off. Two of Rutgers’ best players are newcomers. Leading-scorer Delby Powless, a first team All-American, is a transfer from Herkimer Community College. Greg Havalchak is an agile 6-foot-1, 225-pound freshman goalie.

Stagnitta said he’s tempted to tout a meeting with Syracuse as an extraordinary opportunity for Rutgers to make a name for itself — like a 10-8 loss on March 25 to Princeton could have — but he plans to approach the game like any other.

“I’ve been a head coach a long time,’ he said. ‘You can’t reinvent the wheel in four days.’

It may take longer than a few days, but if Stagnitta has his way, in a few years he’ll have reinvented Rutgers lacrosse.

‘It’s a great opportunity,’ Stagnitta said. ‘We’re a good-sized school, we’re in the Big East. I don’t see why we can’t be like a Syracuse someday.’

Published on April 10, 2003 at 12:00 pm