Anthony Gilardi concluded his eighth season on the sideline for Towson men’s lacrosse in 2018, serving as the offensive coordinator. He was promoted to associate head coach in December 2013.
In 2017, the Tigers reached the NCAA Championship Weekend for the first time since 2001, thanks to Gilardi's offense that scored double-digits 10 times. Coupled with the Tigers' defense, Towson had one of the best one-two punches in the country.
Under Gilardi’s guidance in 2017, two Tigers earned USILA All-America Honorable Mention plaudits: Ryan Drenner and Mike Lynch. Gilardi coached then-sophomore Joe Seider to not only CAA first team honors, but saw the young attackman named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The last several seasons have seen a resurgence in the Towson offense under Gilardi's guidance. In 2016 Tigers paced their way to a 16-3 overall record, adding the program's sixth CAA Championship to the trophy case. Gilardi's offense was a huge part of that success as Towson tucked away over 200 goals along with over 100 assists. It marked the first time since the 2001 season the Tigers went 200-plus on goals and 100-plus on assists in the same season.
Gilardi's 2016 offense was rested on the shoulders of its attackline as senior Spencer Parks (29g, 19a), and juniors Ryan Drenner (33g, 23a) and Joe Seider (35g, 5a) led the offense. Drenner was tapped as the 2016 CAA Co-Player of the Year, the second Tiger to ever earn the award. He was also named USILA All-America honorable mention.
But while the offense ran through the attack, the Tigers were a versatile bunch, with 20 players recording at least one point throughout the season, with half that number scoring at least 10 points. 2016 saw Joe Seider tie his own program record with shots in a season as the big-framed attackman took 137 attempts.
In 2015, Gilardi helped lead Towson to its fifth Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title, the most in conference history. The Tigers were potent on the extra-man, scoring on 18 of their 49 chances, a CAA second-best .367 clip.
Gilardi coached sophomore Joe Seider to not only CAA first team honors, but saw the young attackman named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Despite losing one of the Tigers’ top threats from the midfield to injury, Gilardi tutored Andrew Hodgson, who was later drafted by the Denver Outlaws in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Supplemental Draft.
In 2014, Gilardi helped a talented group of offensive players have a breakout year. Then a freshman, Seider led the team in goals, while junior Greg Cuccinello had a 20-plus-goal season for the second straight year.
In 2013, he guided the Tigers to their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title since 2005 and first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007. Gilardi coached attackman Thomas DeNapoli to a 41-goal season and USILA honorable mention All-America honors.
Before coming to Towson, Gilardi helped the US Naval Academy earn a pair of Patriot League Tournament appearances and the 2009 Patriot League championship. As the Mids’ offensive coordinator, he guided a Navy offense that ranked fourth in the Patriot League, averaging 9.08 goals per game. In addition, Navy ranked third in the Patriot League, scoring 19 extra-man goals in 13 games, a 1.46 average.
Prior to joining the Navy staff, Gilardi spent four years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, helping Ohio State reach the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes ranked third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 13.18 goals per game. They also scored on 32.7 percent of their extra-man opportunities, which also ranked third in NCAA Division I.
In 2005, the Baldwin, New York native helped Denison College reach the NCAA Division III Tournament as the Big Red’s co-offensive coordinator.
A two-time All-Great Western Lacrosse League selection, Gilardi led the Buckeyes to NCAA Tournament appearances as a junior and senior.
In addition, Gilardi was a scholar-athlete who received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2003 and 2004. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history and was the recipient of the prestigious Corwin A. Fergus Postgraduate Scholar-Athlete Scholarship from Ohio State.
Gilardi is married to the former Jessica Coridan. The couple have a son, Lucas, and a daughter, Anna.
