Lacrosse All-American and three-time Team USA midfielder Jim Darcangelo parlayed his love for the game into establishing the sport’s first retail store. He passed away suddenly on March 28, 2020 at the age of 67.
Known familiarly as “Darky” he was a key factor in helping Towson to its only men’s national championship in the University’s athletics history when the Tigers beat Hobart 18-17 in overtime for the 1974 College Division lacrosse title. Selected All-Mason Conference first team three consecutive years, he was a two-time first team All-American. Arguably one of the sport’s most talented midfielders of all time, he was honored as the USILA’s College Division Midfielder of the Year in 1974 when he was also chosen as its Player of the Year, an award he garnered again in 1975.
After graduating from Corning East High School he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy but ultimately chose not to attend, instead enrolling, ironically, at Hobart for a semester and then Corning Community College before arriving at Towson in 1973 as an attackman.
“Darky was a well-sought after lacrosse player,” said longtime Tiger coach Carl Runk who recruited the high school All-American and realizing his athleticism, moved him to midfield. “We didn’t have scholarships back then. What little bit of money we had I offered to him. He came down and visited. He really like it here and the guys he met. He was a great shooter, had quick hands and could release very quickly. There’s no doubt about it, he was instrumental in any success that we had while he played here.”
Towson’s Scholar-Athlete Award recipient in 1975, Jim graduated Magna Cum Laude. He continued his lacrosse career at the club level playing for the Maryland Lacrosse Club. He was named the USCLA Player of the Year in 1979 and was subsequently honored as the first recipient of the Krongard Award, the highest honor bestowed in the club game, in 1989. He was a five-time All-Club selection. In 2001 he was honored with the USILA’s Frenchy Julien Service Award given for a lifetime of service, accomplishments and contributions to lacrosse.
Jim also competed for the US World Lacrosse Team, helping the US to World Championship titles in the 1978, 1982 and 1986. He was an alternate on the 1990 squad.
In 1990 Jim and his Tiger teammate, All-American attackman Bobby Griebe, in their first year of eligibility, became the initial Towson lacrosse players inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. They have been followed by Dick Edell in 2004 and Rob Shek in 2016, both Towson hall of famers also. Jim and Bobby were inducted into the Towson Hall of Fame in 1986.
In 1988 Jim co-founded LAX World as the nation’s first retail store dedicated to the sale of lacrosse equipment. What began as a single store in Kenilworth grew to a chain of 16 shops operating locally in Towson, Annapolis, Timonium, Ellicott City and Bel Air, and in Virginia, New York, Georgia, Colorado and Washington state. In 2013 Jim sold the chain.
