Rick Senatore
Rick Senatore

Bio

>> 2007, 2012 and 2015 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year
>> 2012 and 2015 NEILA Division II Coach of the Year
>> Guided Franklin Pierce to program's first postseason appearance in 2015

 

It would be an understatement to say head coach Rick Senatore has had a major impact on the Franklin Pierce University men's lacrosse program. In fact, it would be tough to put into words what his presence has meant to the program during his nine seasons at the school. He is also an assistant coach for the men's and women's golf teams.

After an impressive run in the same position at Saint Anselm College, Senatore came to Rindge and inherited a Ravens program in 2010 which had won just 17 total games during its first 12 seasons from 1998-2009. The task to turn around the fortunes of the program was great, but Senatore was up to the challenge. 

His experience in college coaching and his passion for the sport of lacrosse has been on display since his arrival on campus, and those traits have helped Senatore turn Franklin Pierce into a competitive program in one of the nation's top Division II conferences (the Northeast-10). Over his eight seasons, Senatore has guided the Ravens to 47 combined wins, the program's first postseason appearance (a trip to the NE-10 semifinals in 2015), its first winning season (7-6 in 2012), a second-place finish in the 2015 NEILA Division II poll and has coached seven players who have earned all-conference accolades (including the 2011 NE-10 rookie of the year Eddie Noonan) Senatore has also coached up 10 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Division II All-New England Team selections.

TURNING FRANKLIN PIERCE AROUND

During the 2017 season, the Crimson and Grey finished the year at 4-9 and 2-9 in NE10 play. The Ravens had a tough conference slate as they faced off against numerous nationally-ranked conference opponents. Before the season even began, junior Sean Delea was selected to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse (NEILA) Division II All-New England Preseason Team. Jack Carney took a huge step forward in his development as he led the Ravens in goals and total points, surpassing each previous career-best marks with ease. Freshman Alex Caskie was the lone Raven to receive conference honors as he was selected to the NE10 All-Rookie Team. A few weeks after the conclusion of the season, Brad Chapdelaine was named to the NEILA Division II All-New England Second Team. Departing senior Robert Meyers played in the NEILA East-West Senior All-Star Game and earned NEILA Academic All-New England honors.

In 2016, the Ravens finished March with a 3-3 record going 2-2 in NE-10 action after defeating Saint Michael's 10-9 and American International 16-5. FPU struggled in April going 2-5 over their final seven games. Sophomore midfielder Brad Chapdelaine was named to the All-Northeast-10 Second Team, while freshman midfielder Jake Castorf was selected to the All-Rookie team. A few weeks after the conference awards were announced Chapdelaine and sophomore midfielder Sean Delea were chosen to the NEILA Division II All-New England Teams.

The 2015 season served as an exclamation mark on a steady, six-year buildup under Senatore. By far the most successful season in program history, the Ravens rolled their way to a 12-4 record, which included an 8-3 mark and a fourth-place finish in Northeast-10 play. Both records represented program high-water marks, while the latter allowed the program to earn its first-ever berth into the Northeast-10 Championship. Franklin Pierce hosted and won its first postseason appearance with a 9-5 triumph over Assumption in the quarterfinal round on April 28 at Sodexo Field, before ultimately falling at Le Moyne, 12-8, in the semifinal round. Along the way, the Ravens picked up their first-ever win over Bentley, 9-7, erasing some of the sting from dramatic, one-goal losses in the previous two seasons.

The league and the region took notice, as the Ravens collected various accolades at the Conference and New England level upon the conclusion of the season. Senior attack Eddie Noonan capped his career with a selection to the All-Northeast-10 Second Team, while Senatore himself was named Northeast-10 Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (second at Franklin Pierce). Meanwhile, freshman midfielder Brad Chapdelaine was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team. Noonan led five players named to the NEILA All-Division II Team, as he was joined by Erik Kelly, Casey Burnett, Sean Delea and Don Denman, while Senatore was also named the NEILA Division II Coach of the Year. Noonan and Denman each represented Franklin Pierce at the NEILA's annual East-West Senior All-Star Game.

The 2014 campaign served as a prelude to the 2015 festivities, as a 6-7 overall record and a 4-7 Northeast-10 mark left Franklin Pierce one game shy of the league's final postseason berth. At the time, six wins represented the second-highest total in program history. Junior goalkeeper Don Denman was named to the All-Northeast-10 Second Team, while Robert Meyers landed on the All-Rookie Team. Denman, along with Erik Kelly and Eddie Noonan were named to the NEILA All-Division II Team, and Kelly was selected to the NEILA East-West Senior All-Star Game. In the classroom, Cody Kelley earned a selection to the NEILA Senior Scholar Academic All-Region Team.

Senatore led a young Ravens squad in 2013 to a respectable 5-8 record, including a season-ending 12-10 win on the road at Pace. Freshman attackman Casey Burnett earned NE-10 All-Rookie Team honors under Senatore's guidance. The 2013 campaign came on the heels of the most successful season in program history in 2012.

In 2012, Senatore guided Franklin Pierce to a 7-6 overall record and a 5-5 mark in the Northeast-10. It marked the program's first winning record and the victory total was the highest for a single season. The Ravens, who were tabbed to finish 10th in the NE-10 preseason poll, ultimately finished in fifth place in the league standings. Franklin Pierce also concluded the campaign ranked third in the final NEILA Division II Poll, which marked the program's highest ranking ever in the regional poll.

The Ravens produced several memorable wins during the season, including an 11-10 triumph at No. 9 Saint Anselm, which was the program's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent. Franklin Pierce also defeated Southern New Hampshire and Pace for the first time in program history.

For his efforts, Senatore was named the NE-10 Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. NEILA also recognized him as its Division II Coach of the Year following the campaign.

Several players succeeded under his mentoring, including senior attackman Jimmy McInnis, who set the program record for career assists with 35, while also being invited to compete in the NEILA East-West All-Star Game, which pitted the top Division I, II & III college players throughout New England. McInnis also succeeded in the classroom by being named to the NEILA All-Academic Team for posting an impressive 3.22 cumulative grade point average in his major of business.

Attackman Eddie Noonan didn't suffer a sophomore slump after an impressive rookie season in 2011. As a second-year player in 2012, Noonan was named to the NEILA All-Division II team after he produced a career-high 31 points, thus becoming just the 10th player in program history to top the 30-point mark in a season. Freshman goalie Don Denman produced a 7-6 record in net (most wins by a goalie for a single season in team history) and was named to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team.

In his second season at Franklin Pierce in 2011, Senatore helped guide Noonan to NE-10 Rookie-of-the-Year honors, while also earning a spot on the league's All-Rookie Team. If that accomplishment wasn't enough, Noonan was then tabbed as NEILA's Division II Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-NEILA Second-Team. The honors marked the first major awards in program history. On the team front, the Ravens won their first two games of the season, including a thrilling 9-8 come-from-behind win over Dominican, and jumped into the NEILA Top-5 Poll for just the second time in program history.

In 2010 under Senatore's first-year guidance, Franklin Pierce set a then-program record for overall and conference wins in a single season. The Ravens began the season with four-straight wins and ultimately concluded the campaign ranked fifth in the final edition of the NEILA Poll (at the time the highest ranking in program history). The Ravens proved to be a solid team at home in the friendly-confines of Sodexo Field as they posted a respectable 4-3 record.

Individual honors were also thrown at Franklin Pierce following the season as freshman defender Ben McDannell was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team.

SUCCESS PRIOR TO COMING TO RINDGE

Senatore came to Franklin Pierce following three years at fellow Northeast-10 Conference member Saint Anselm College. He turned around a program which posted a 3-11 record the year prior to his arrival into a program which earned NE-10 Tournament bids in each of his three seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 2009.

Senatore led Saint Anselm to winning records both overall and in NE-10 play each of the last two seasons, posting identical 8-7 clips in 2008 and 2009, along with 6-4 and 5-4 marks in conference, respectively. He earned NE-10 Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2007 after the Hawks won four of their last five games, including the first two wins over nationally ranked programs in school history, and was selected to coach the East squad in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-Star Game.

Over his three years at Saint Anselm, 10 players were named All-New England, five All-Northeast-10, four selected for the NEILA Senior All-Star Game and one picked to the NE-10 All-Academic team. Senatore is also active within the NEILA, serving as Division II Poll Committee Leader and Academic All-New England Committee Leader.

Prior to taking over at Saint Anselm, Senatore served three years as Head Boy’s Lacrosse Coach at Hopkinton High School. He started the program in 2004 at the junior varsity level, competing at the varsity level for the first time in 2005. In the program’s second year at the varsity level, the Hawks posted a 12-4 record and advanced to the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) small-school state semifinals. Senatore was named Coach of the Year in the NHIAA and was selected to coach the New Hampshire Senior All-Star Team for his efforts.

Senatore is co-founder and director of Granite State Lacrosse, which runs a series of camps, indoor leagues and the New Hampshire Tomahawks Elite Lacrosse Club.

Senatore is a 1991 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where he played under legendary coach Dick Garber. He was a four-year starting midfielder and helped the Minutemen to four straight NCAA Division 1 Tournament appearances and a Top 10 national ranking in each of those seasons. During his freshman year, he was selected to try-out for the Under 19 US National Team. Senatore was a team captain, named to the Division 1 All-New England Team and was selected to play in the NEILA Senior All-Star Game.

A native of Lindenhurst, N.Y., Senatore played on the prestigious Long Island Empire State Team and was a Newsday All-Long Island selection in football. He currently resides in Bedford, NH with his wife, Valerie and their two children.

Franklin Pierce University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach (2010-Present)

Years Wins Losses Conf. Wins Conf. Losses Highlights
2010 5 8 2 8  
2011 3 10 1 9  
2012 7 6 5 5 NE-10 Coach of the Year, NEILA Division II Coach of the Year
2013 5 8 4 7  
2014 6 7 4 7  
2015 12 4 8 3 NE-10 Coach of the Year, NEILA Division II Coach of the Year, NE-10 Semifinals, Second-place finish in the 2015 NEILA Division II poll, Most wins in a single season
2016 5 8 4 7  
2017 4 9 2 9  
2018  5 8 3 8  
2019 5 8 3 8  
2020* 2 0 0 0  
2021 5 7 4 6 NE-10 Quarterfinals
           
FPU Total 64 83 40 77 .435 Overall / .342 Conference
           
11 Year Total 86 105 55 90 .450 Overall / .379 Conference

*Shortened Season due to COVID-19


Saint Anselm College Men's Lacrosse Head Coach (2007-2009)

Years Wins Losses Conf. Wins Conf. Losses Highlights
2007 6 8 4 5 NE-10 Coach of the Year, NE-10 Quarterfinals
2008 8 7 6 4 NE-10 Quarterfinals
2009 8 7 5 4 NE-10 Semifinals
           
SAC Total 22 22 15 13 .500 Overall / .536 Conference