Joe Cuozzo
 

             Head coach Joe Cuozzo recently completed his 32nd year of coaching at Ward Melville High School.   His career record of 609 wins against only 53 losses makes him the winningest coach in the country.  He was designated National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in June 1995.  He was also inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1993, Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame(1988), Cortland Hall of Fame(1993), and the Suffolk County Hall of Fame in 1998.  His teams have produced 7 New York State Championships,9 Down-State Championships, 15 Long Island Championships, 22 Suffolk County Championships, and 29 League or Division Championships.  He has coached 45 High-School All Americans.

Personal:       Children: Kimberly, Kristopher

                       Grandchildren: Kiersten, Brendan
                                        
                                       
 
        Bill Martens
 
 

              Coach Martens begins his 28th year as an assistant coach for the Ward Melville Patriots.  He came to Ward Melville following 15 years as the Head Coach at Half Hollow Hills.  Coach Martens is famous in the lacrosse community for his "backer" defense which has confused many offensive schemes over the years.  He is responsible for the strong defensive teams at Ward Melville.

             The 1998 team had the lowest GPG average out of the 30 year history of Ward Melville Lacrosse.  This defense which consisted primarily of Matt Grosso, Mike Duffy, Chris Passavia and John Karcher gave up a stunning average of 2.3 goals per game including playoff games.

             Coach Martens also constructs the effective clears and man down defenses which year after year continue to be stalwart.  His man down defense operated almost perfectly throughout the 98 season and held West Genessee to only 1/6 in man up opportunities in the 98 State Championship Game.

             He has coached many High School All-Americans and also some players who are in the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame including: Bob Rotanz, Kevin O'Shea, Tom Rotanz, and Charlie Brown.

Personal: Wife:  Helen
                  Children:   Gene (Michigan)
                                     Anne (California)
                                     Barbara (Sound Beach)
                                     Robert (Tokyo)
                                     Joe (New York City)
                                     Susan (Greenlawn)
                                     Richard (Center Moriches)
                                     Jennifer (Hauppague)

       Mike Hoppey

            Coach Hoppey begins his fourth year as varsity assistant coach for the Ward Melville Patriots.  He joined the varsity staff in 1997 after spending 6 yrs. as a lacrosse coach on the junior high level and 9 years as an assistant coach on the Ward Melville Junior Varsity.

            Coach Hoppey is a 1974 Ward Melville graduate.  He played lacrosse at Ward Melville and was part of Ward Melville's first Suffolk County and Long Island Championship Teams.  He was a three sport athlete at Ward Melville where he was an All-County wrestler, All-County lacrosse player, and was a member of the football team.

            He graduated in 1978 from Cortland State University.  At Cortland he lettered in Lacrosse for four years and was a member of the 1975 National Championship team.

            As an assistant coach at Ward Melville he is responsible for the attack and man-up offense.  His teaching qualities and professional manner are very appealing to his players.

            Coach Hoppey was inducted into the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame this year.  Thus completing the trio of coaches that are members of this Hall of Fame. (Cuozzo, Martens)

            Coach Hoppey's father Bob, a legendary lacrosse coach at Brentwood High School, enjoyed a 30 year career and is still active in lacrosse today.

Personal:  Wife: Regina
                  Children:   Bobby 11, Maggie 9, and Jackson 6

     Ray Weeks

             Coach Ray Weeks begins his 30th year as Head Coach for the Junior Varsity at Ward Melville. He was recruited as the JV Coach by Head Varsity Coach Joe Cuozzo from the basketball program.   Coach Weeks is a major component of the program at Ward Melville.  He is responsible for the transition from the junior high level to the Ward Melville style of lacrosse.  Over the years, coach Weeks has seen many players enter the JV level with strong fundamentals for the game.  His major job is to teach his players the strategy and field presence needed to play at the next level.  He attributes his ability to teach these principles to his basketball background.

              Coach Weeks has coached many of the All-Americans who attended Ward Melville.  His teams have been dominant over the years, many of the teams have posted undefeated records.  He loves coaching young players and although he has retired from his teaching position in the Three Village District, his commitment to the program is unchanged.  He states that his reason for coaching is "the wonderful relationship of the coaching staff, the dedication of his players for the game, and the tremendous support of the parents in the community."

Personal: Wife: Barbara
                  Children:   Jennifer         
                                     Alison

                  Granddaughter: Kaitlyn