Towson University head men's lacrosse coach Shawn Nadelen announced Steve Grossi as the program's defensive coordinator in the fall of 2018.
Over the last six seasons, Grossi has mentored 21 All-CAA players on the defensive end of the field, including Koby Smith, who was drafted fifth overall in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) 2022 College Draft, and Colby Barsz, the 24th overall pick by the Utah Archers in the 2024 PLL Draft. Grossi coached three-time All-American Zach Goodrich in his final season (2019), seeing the captain earn USILA Lt. J.G. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. honors as the most outstanding midfielder in college lacrosse.
In 2025, Grossi's defense helped Towson earned its second-straight CAA Tournament victory and undefeated CAA regular season. Two close defensemen, Joe Petro and Conor Spagnolli, each earned All-CAA selections at First Team and Second Team respectively. Petro also earned Inside Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention and became the first-ever Towson men's lacrosse player to earn CSC Academic All-America® recognition, being named Third Team.
2024 saw Towson having the second-ranked scoring defense in DI with 9.12 goals allowed per game, leading the Tigers to the program's first CAA Tournament title since 2019 and first CAA undefeated regular season since 2004. Four players earned All-CAA status, led by two who were All-Americans: Colby Barsz notched Inside Lacrosse Media Third Team All-American defender and Honorable Mention All-America from the USILA and USA Lacrosse while Reece Potter notched Inside Lacrosse Media All-America Honorable Mention at SSDM. Towson held opponents to eight goals or fewer nine times.
In 2023, Towson had a 10.61 goals allowed average, standing second in the CAA in scoring defense and leading the league in ground balls per game. Colby Barsz earned his second straight All-CAA First Team selection, moving from LSM to close defense in 2023, while Evan Long and Garrett Zungailia each were All-CAA Second Team.
Over the course of the 2022 season, Towson finished with a penalty killing percentage of 67.7, ranking second in the CAA and 25th in Division I. Smith ranked among the top takeaway defenseman in the country, causing 1.14 caused turnovers per game, while senior Garrett Zungailia was close behind with 1.06 per game.
Grossi, who spent two seasons at the University of Richmond, brings an impressive ledger with him to Towson. During his coaching career, he has mentored 12 All-Southern Conference selections, five All-Ivy League picks and seven First-Team All-Northeast Conference student-athletes. He has coached two man-down defenses to a first-place finish in the NCAA Statistical Rankings and has helped guide two overall scoring defenses to top-10 scoring percentages nationally.
For the 2017 and 2018 season, Grossi was the recruiting coordinator at Richmond as the Spiders captured the 2018 Southern Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Grossi worked closely with the special teams and defense, developing fundamental skills and implementation of team-oriented defensive systems. In his first season working with Spider head coach Dan Chemotti, Grossi coached the 2017 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year while mentoring two All-Americans, including goalie Benny Pugh, a First Team USILA All-American in 2017.
As the recruiting coordinator at Richmond, Grossi was responsible for finding academically qualified scholar-athletes using the University of Richmond academic index while overseeing each recruit's academic portfolio.
Prior to his stop in Virginia's capital city, Grossi was the defensive coordinator at Princeton University. There he assisted in the daily practice plan development in addition to promoting additional skill training outside of mandatory activity. He worked directly with the defensive personnel on individual skill development while implementing the team defensive schemes.
From August 2012 until July 2015, Grossi was the defensive coordinator at Saint Joseph's University under head coach Taylor Wray. He worked closely with the Hawks' defensive personnel, goalie corps and faceoff units to increase individual skill development. Grossi was also in charge of the scouting report for upcoming games and implementing a defensive game plan based on analysis. He served as the coaching staff's liaison with Saint Joseph's strength and conditioning staff.
Grossi made his coaching debut in January 2011 at Hampden-Sydney College, a Division III institution in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. During his two seasons in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, Grossi helped recruit student-athletes from several states with the academic qualifications and player profiles to fit the Tigers' system. Working primarily with the defense, Grossi focused game planning on the opponent while assisting with the scouting reports. He was integral in daily practice plans while also coordinating team travel and meals.
A four-year student-athlete at Drexel University, Grossi is deeply familiar with the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). He was a two-time captain with the Dragons (2007, 2008) under head coach Chris Bates, who he worked with later at Princeton. While with the Dragons, Grossi was a four-time All-CAA selection, including two first-team nods in 2007 and 2008. As a senior, he was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List and was selected to the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game.
After exhausting his collegiate eligibility, Grossi continued his playing career with the nearby Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League. Grossi graduated from Drexel in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He later earned his Master of Science degree in organization, development and leadership in 2016 from Saint Joseph's University.
