Congratulations to Coach Bob Hartranft and the Farmingdale program on the receipt of this award recognizing the years of work put in by the coach on his program for now his fifth decade at the helm.

Forestdale, MA (November 10, 2011) -- Farmingdale High School boys' head coach Bob Hartranft has been named the inaugural coach of the year by the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (NILCA).

The award will be presented during the high school coaches meeting Saturday, December 3 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. The NILCA meeting will take place during the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association's annual convention.

Coach Hartranft has been at the helm of the varsity program at Farmingdale High School for the past 43 years. This past June, the Dalers won its first ever New [lacrosse] State Class A Championship, marking the first time since 1986 that a Class A team from Nassau County took that honor. Other highlights of Coach Hartranft's career include:

* 654 wins (second in New [lacrosse] State to Mike Messere) (active coaches)

* consecutive non-losing seasons - 37 (1975-2011)

* consecutive playoff appearances - 37 (1975-2011)

* consecutive semifinal appearances - 21 (longest streak in Nassau County history)

* 13 Nassau County championships

* 32 All-Americans

The NILCA Coach of the-Year Award will be presented annually to an individual the NILCA Awards Committee selects from those coaches nominated by their peers. National nominations will be accepted each year with the recipient receiving the honor during the annual NILCA membership meeting conducted in December.

Coaches interested in attending the 2011 IMLCA Convention can register at www.lacrossecoaches.org.

The NILCA was formed to provide dedicated service to high school lacrosse coaches throughout the United States. Issues the NILCA will address during its inaugural year include high school playing rules, the establishment of an all-America program, relations with the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association and identifying solutions to issues raised by high school coaches.