Henry Ciccarone
Encyclopedia
Henry A. "Chic" Ciccarone (February 8, 1938 – November 16, 1988) was an American college lacrosse
coach. He was the head coach of the lacrosse team at Johns Hopkins University
from 1975 to 1983, during which time he amassed a 105–16 record. Ciccarone guided the Blue Jays to three consecutive national championships from 1978 to 1980. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1987.
. He played varsity lacrosse as a midfielder at both institutions, and earned All-State honors in 1956. Ciccarone then attended college at Johns Hopkins University
where he continued playing the sport. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
named him to the All-America
third team in 1960, the second team in 1961, and the first team in 1962. As a senior in 1962, he served as the team captain and participated in the North/South Collegiate All-Star Game
.
In 1975, Ciccarone became the head coach of the Johns Hopkins lacrosse team. He led Hopkins to the NCAA tournament all nine years of his tenure, and to the championship game seven consecutive times from 1977 to 1983. Ciccarone guided the Blue Jays to the NCAA championship in three consecutive seasons, from 1978 to 1980, which made him the first coach to accomplish that feat.
After defeating Maryland, 15–9, in the 1979 championship final to preserve a perfect 13–0 season, Ciccarone said, "I think you have to call this the greatest Johns Hopkins lacrosse team ever." Sports Illustrated
writer Joe Marshall responded, "It might be easier to name the most beautiful Miss America
." In the second edition of Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition by Bob Scott and Dave Pietramala
, Ciccarone was referred to as "one of the finest coaches in the history of lacrosse."
Don Zimmerman
played under Ciccarone in 1975 and 1976, and later served as his assistant coach. Zimmerman took over as Johns Hopkins head coach upon Ciccarone's retirement and led Hopkins to three national championships in his own right.
at the age of 50. He was married and had four sons: Brent, Henry Jr., John, and Steve, all of whom also played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inducted Ciccarone in 1987. The Anne Arundel County
Sports Hall of Fame inducted him in 2000. The Henry Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
was named in his honor by Dr. Roger Blumenthal, who was an assistant sports information director during Ciccarone's tenure.
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
coach. He was the head coach of the lacrosse team at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
from 1975 to 1983, during which time he amassed a 105–16 record. Ciccarone guided the Blue Jays to three consecutive national championships from 1978 to 1980. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1987.
Early life and college
Ciccarone attended St. Mary's High School and later transferred to the Severn SchoolSevern School
Severn School was founded in 1914 by Rolland M. Teel in Severna Park, Maryland, as a preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy. Today, Severn is a day school enrolling boys and girls in grades 6 through 12...
. He played varsity lacrosse as a midfielder at both institutions, and earned All-State honors in 1956. Ciccarone then attended college at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
where he continued playing the sport. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
named him to the All-America
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
third team in 1960, the second team in 1961, and the first team in 1962. As a senior in 1962, he served as the team captain and participated in the North/South Collegiate All-Star Game
North-South Senior All-Star Game
The North-South Senior All-Star Game is an annual postseason college lacrosse game featuring the best players from the graduating class. It is hosted by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association , one of the college sport's main governing bodies. The inaugural event occurred in 1940 at...
.
Coaching career
Ciccarone began his coaching career in 1963 as an assistant lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins, and continued in that role through 1969. He also served as an assistant football coach during that period, and as the head basketball coach from the 1963–64 season through the 1968–69 season. His basketball teams compiled a 35–68 record.In 1975, Ciccarone became the head coach of the Johns Hopkins lacrosse team. He led Hopkins to the NCAA tournament all nine years of his tenure, and to the championship game seven consecutive times from 1977 to 1983. Ciccarone guided the Blue Jays to the NCAA championship in three consecutive seasons, from 1978 to 1980, which made him the first coach to accomplish that feat.
After defeating Maryland, 15–9, in the 1979 championship final to preserve a perfect 13–0 season, Ciccarone said, "I think you have to call this the greatest Johns Hopkins lacrosse team ever." Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Joe Marshall responded, "It might be easier to name the most beautiful Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
." In the second edition of Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition by Bob Scott and Dave Pietramala
Dave Pietramala
Dave Pietramala is the current Head Coach for the Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse team. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in lacrosse history, and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as both a...
, Ciccarone was referred to as "one of the finest coaches in the history of lacrosse."
Don Zimmerman
Don Zimmerman
Donald "Don" Zimmerman is an American lacrosse coach. He is currently serving as the head coach for the UMBC Retrievers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a position he has held since 1994. Between 1984 and 1987, Zimmerman coached Johns Hopkins to three national championships...
played under Ciccarone in 1975 and 1976, and later served as his assistant coach. Zimmerman took over as Johns Hopkins head coach upon Ciccarone's retirement and led Hopkins to three national championships in his own right.
Later life
In 1983, Ciccarone retired from coaching with a 105–16 career record and entered private business. He became the president of Bestway Distributing Company, where he worked until his death. Ciccarone died of a heart attack on November 16, 1988 at his home in Cockeysville, MarylandCockeysville, Maryland
Cockeysville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 19,388 at the 2000 census.-History:...
at the age of 50. He was married and had four sons: Brent, Henry Jr., John, and Steve, all of whom also played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inducted Ciccarone in 1987. The Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
Sports Hall of Fame inducted him in 2000. The Henry Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
was named in his honor by Dr. Roger Blumenthal, who was an assistant sports information director during Ciccarone's tenure.