Danowski Joins Dad at Duke

One of the great schoolboy athletes in Farmingdale history is following his father into coaching. More than that, Matt Danowski is joining his father's coaching staff.

Danowski, 26, was hired Tuesday as men's assistant lacrosse coach at Duke University, reuniting with his father, John Danowski. The younger Danowski is one of the outstanding lacrosse players in NCAA history.

"I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to begin my lacrosse coaching career," Matt Danowski said. "And to be awarded the opportunity to do so at my alma mater is a dream come true. Duke has given me so much and I look forward to giving back those experiences to the future student-athletes. I look forward to being a member of the Duke coaching family and can't wait to work closely with the student-athletes as well as the university and athletics staff."

Danowski is currently an attack for the Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse. He's fourth in the league in points through 11 games.

Danowski is one of three players in Atlantic Coast Conference history to earn both conference rookie of the year and player of the year honors during his Duke career. He earned the Tewaaraton Trophy as national player of the year in 2007 after leading Duke to the NCAA title game. He took the Blue Devils to the semis in 2008.

Before he exploded onto the scene at Duke, Danowski was a three-sport star at . He quarterbacked the football team, played point guard in basketball and did it all in lacrosse. All three Daler teams reached the Nassau championship game during his 2002-03 senior campaign.

Danowski was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse draft and a four-time MLL All-Star. 

John Danowski owns a 314-163 career record, one of nine coaches in NCAA history with 300 or more wins. Danowski coached at Hofstra 21 seasons before taking the Duke job in 2007. He finally won a national championship in 2010.

His father, the late Ed Danowski, played quarterback for the New York Giants (winning NFL titles in 1934 and '38) and coached football at Fordham University from 1946-54.

It's a coaching legacy the youngest Danowski seems destined to continue.