SUNY Cortland Athletics

An outstanding leader who captained both the SUNY Cortland football and lacrosse teams in the late 1960's, David Urick has etched his name into the NCAA record books as head coach of the Hobart College lacrosse dynasty of the 1980's. In 1986, he directed the USA lacrosse squad to the world championship in Toronto. Since Urick took over the Statesman lacrosse program in 1979, his teams have won seven national championships - no other team has won the NCAA Division III lacrosse title. His Hobart squads have a combined 90-21 record competing against the nation's top lacrosse units.

Urick won the Francis L. "Babe" Kraus Award as Division III Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1981. An assistant coach for the 1982 USA lacrosse team, Urick was head coach of the 1986 world champion USA lacrosse squad.

Recruited from West Seneca, N.Y., by former SUNY Cortland football coach Roger Robinson, Urick was a three-year starter at linebacker. He was an All-ECAC selection, winner of the Red Letter, and the team captain as a senior. Urick didn't play lacrosse until interested in the sport by his Cortland roommate from Long Island. But he soon won plaudits as an All-Central New York League defenseman while a senior Red Dragon tri-captain. "I remember the caliber of the competition we went against in both football and lacrosse," recalled Urick. "We played Northeastern, Rhode Island and Maryland-Eastern Shore in football. In lacrosse, we were ranked among the Top Ten in the nation and that was when there was just one division. Participating in two sports at the collegiate level provided opportunities for leadership and organization, two qualities which have served me later in life in my coaching positions," said Urick, who was named the Cortland College Distinguished Young Alumnus in 1980. "I attribute much of my success to Professor Ralph A. Brown, who taught me to see the value in all individuals, and coach Roger Robinson, who gave me a sound foundation in athletics while teaching me to be tough but fair."

Urick earned a bachelor's degree in secondary social studies in 1970. That autumn, he was in the Susquehanna Valley School District in Conklin, N.Y., as a teacher and assistant football coach. In March, 1971, Urick began his continuing relationship with Hobart College. He started as assistant football and lacrosse coach while serving as a physical education instructor. Urick was head Hobart football coach from 1976 to 1981. He won ICAC Coach of the Year honors during his 7-2 season in 1977. Urick served as assistant athletic director from 1978-81 and became Hobart's physical education director in 1982.
In his community, Urick has been a volunteer program director, Geneva YMCA coordinator, and has directed the Geneva Recreation Department box lacrosse program.

Urick and his wife, Linda, have three children: Holly, Scott and Mindy.

UPDATE- March, 2015: Urick announced his retirement as head coach of the Georgetown men's lacrosse team in 2012 after 23 years. He arrived at Georgetown 33 years before and plans to stay involved as the special assistant to the Director of Athletics. Prior to his 22nd season the Georgetown men's lacrosse team has made the NCAA Tournament 11 out of the past 14 seasons and during that stretch the program advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals 9 times, including six straight seasons, and in 1999 they made it to the semifinals making it the best finish ever in the history of Georgetown Lacrosse. In 20 of 21 seasons Georgetown has a winning record, the only winning seasons in the programs 36 year history at the Division I level. His lacrosse team has been ranked in the Top 10 of the Final United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Top 20 Poll in 12 of the past 14 years. In 31 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level Urick has posted an impressive record of 331-116 for a .740 winning percentage.

In 2010, Urick was named the USILA Howdy Myers Man of the Year in recognition for his contributions to the game and as the all-time wins leader in the sport. Urick has named the ECAC Lacrosse League Coach of the Year in 2000 and again in 2007. In 1984, 1992, and 2004 Urick coached the South Squad in the North-South All-Star Games. Urick was honored with the opportunity to serve as head coach of the 1986 Team USA which won the gold medal at the World Games in Toronto. He served as an assistant on the 1982 USA Team that won the gold medal and is the current Chair of the USA Team Coaches Selection Committee.

The latest induction was to the Potomac Chapter of the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame on January 22, 2005 and prior to that he was inducted into the Nation Lacrosse Hall of Fame on July 23, 1998. On October 6, 1990, he was inducted into the Hobart College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Upstate New York Lacrosse Foundation Chapter in February of 1991. Urick was the recipient of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's Francis L. "Babe" Kraus Award as the Coach of the year in 1980 and 1981.

UPDATE - September 2018: Hobart College dedicated its stadium as David J. Urick Stadium.

UPDATE: Urick passed away on December 23, 2024.