Gene Peluso is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s lacrosse program in 2019.
Peluso came on board in August of 2009, signing on to be the 19th head coach in the program’s illustrious 132-year history. Peluso, who began coaching in 1992 after a decorated playing career at Nazareth College, was previously the head coach at Rochester Institute of Technology.
In 2017, Peluso led the Ducks to fourteen wins, and saw five student-athletes (Tommy Dawson, Max Bailey, John Boutureira, Chris Contino and Jan Schoonen) be named All-Americans. Additionally, Contino and Schoonen were named Scholar All American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
In 2013, the Ducks earned an at large bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship and advanced to its third consecutive second round appearance in the tournament. The Ducks were ranked as high as No. 4 in the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Top 20 Poll and placed seven student-athletes on Empire 8 All-Conference Teams.
The 2012 season was arguably the greatest season in Stevens’ history. The Ducks compiled a school-record 17 victories en route to their first-ever Empire 8 Conference Title and a second round trip to the NCAA Division III Championship. For the team’s success, Peluso was named Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year.
His second year as head coach at Castle Point witnessed even greater success than the first for Peluso. The Ducks lacrosse squad finished in the top-10 nationally in the USILA Division III Coaches Poll, ranked eighth to end the year (and as high as No. 4) after a 16-3 (7-1 Empire 8) campaign and a second round visit to the NCAA tournament after receiving an at-large bid. The 16 wins tied a then-school-record after Stevens began the season 12-0,
In his eight years at the helm, Peluso has posted a 100-43 overall record, produced 24 USILA All-Americans, 16 USILA Academic All-Americans, 15 North South participants and 69 All-Empire 8 honorees.
Prior to Stevens, Peluso led the Rochester Institute of Technology men’s lacrosse program to a top-five ranking in NCAA Division III and amassed an 88-45 overall record. During his tenure with the Tigers, Peluso helped develop 21 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-Americans, 60 All-Empire 8 honorees, 12 North-South All-Star Game participants, two Empire 8 Rookies of the Year, the 2004 and 2006 Empire 8 Players of the Year, three Verizon Academic All-Americans, and seven USILA Academic All-Americans. He was selected to coach the North squad in the USILA North/South game in 2008 and currently serves on the NCAA All-American Committee for Division III Lacrosse.
Before RIT, Peluso was the architect of the Lycoming College men’s lacrosse program, coaching the first-ever team. During his time at Lycoming, he directed the Warriors to a 42-32 record, including a 32-13 mark over his final three seasons. In 2001, Peluso led Lycoming to its most successful season with an 11-3 record en route to the program’s first-ever regular season Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. Lycoming finished 12-4 overall after placing second in the conference tournament and earned a USILA Top-25 national ranking.
During his tenure at Lycoming, Peluso coached two North-South participants, four All-Americans, and 33 all-conference award winners. He was also the 1999 MAC Coach of the Year.
In 2015, Peluso recorded his 200th career coaching victory and has an overall mark of 230-120 in 21 seasons as a head coach. He was selected to coach the USILA North-South All-Star game in 2008 (North) and 2013 (South).
A native of Baldwin (Long Island),N.Y., Peluso enjoyed an accomplished playing career at Nazareth, leading the Golden Flyers to the NCAA Division III semifinals in his final season.
Additionally, 2010, Peluso was inducted to the US Lacrosse (Greater Rochester Chapter) Hall of Fame.
Peluso resides in Branchburg, N.J. with his wife Beth and two children, daughter Stefani and son Patrick.
