John Danowski, the Duke men’s lacrosse head coach has announced the hiring of former Blue Devil standout Ned Crotty as a volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming 2018 season. Ned Crotty is only 1 of 2 Tewaaraton Award winners in Duke history and will work closely with the Duke attack.
Crotty, the 2010 Tewaaraton Award winner and Duke graduate, has remained active in the sport in playing in Major League Lacrosse and as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team. He worked as the head Lacrosse Manager for House of Sports and then the Director of Lacrosse for LeagueApps. One of the premier offensive talents in Duke history, Crotty will join Matt Danowski to help lead the Duke offense. They are the lone Tewaaraton Award winners in program history and scored a combined 592 career points.
The New Vernon, N.J., native remains fifth on the Duke career points list with 239 points. He is one point ahead of current attackman Justin Guterding. A three-time USILA All-America pick, and two time first-team All-American at attack, Crotty finished his career with 92 goals and 146 assists for 239 points. His 146 assists are second all-time behind Matt Danowski’s 183.
Crotty departed Duke as one of the most decorated players in Blue Devil history and was a driving force in leading the Blue Devils to their first NCAA title in 2010. He was awarded the USILA’s Lt. Col. J.I. Award in 2009 as the nation’s top attackmen and followed that with the Tewaaraton in 2010.
A product of Delbarton, Crotty holds the Duke single-season assists record with 63 and has two of the top three assist totals in a year with his 55 in 2009. His 78 and 86 points in the 2009 and 2010 respective seasons currently rank ninth and 11th at Duke.
After leading Duke to its first NCAA title in 2010, Crotty went on to be selected first in the Major League Lacrosse draft and helped lead the U.S. National Team to gold at the 2010 FIL World Championships. He was the lone collegiate player selected to play for the U.S. in 2010. He has since represented the United States at the 2014 World Championships and is among those expected to make the team again in 2018.
In professional lacrosse, Crotty has had great success in the MLL. He was taken by Chicago Machine (now Ohio Machine) with the first pick in the 2010 draft. His rookie season he posted 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in seven games to earn the MLL Rookie of the Year award. Crotty, currently suiting up for the Rochester Rattlers, is a three-time MLL All-Star selection and was voted to the All-MLL team in 2011. In his eight seasons in the MLL, Crotty has scored 123 goals and assisted on 144 for 269 points in 93 career games.
The Blue Devils are in the early stages of its fall season, holding workouts four days a week that include running, agility and weight room work. Duke returns a wealth of talent from the 2017 squad, including nine starters and four of its top five scorers.
