SALEM – Salem State Director of Athletics Peggy Carl is pleased to announce that Eric Small has been named the new head men’s lacrosse coach, replacing Trevor Eaton, who led the program for the past 13 seasons. “Eric’s obvious passion for lacrosse as well as his head coaching experience and previous work in admissions will all be huge assets to the Viking lacrosse program. His deep desire to move the men’s lacrosse program forward coupled with his relentlessness as a recruiter will be exciting to watch. We are so pleased to welcome Eric to the Salem State family.”
Small comes to Salem State after spending the previous three seasons as head coach at Wheelock College, where he helped restart the varsity program in 2015 after a three-year hiatus. As head coach, Small quickly built Wheelock into a competitive program, spearheading the Wildcats to a 6-8 record in 2016, after a winless campaign the previous season. In his final two seasons, Small recruited seven players who would be named to the New England Collegiate Conference All-Conference team, which also included back-to-back Rookie of the Year honors.
“For many years, both as a student-athlete and a coach, I have had the ability to get to know Salem State University. Salem has a tremendous history of educational and athletic success and with hard work and determination I know that we can offer our men’s lacrosse players an education second to none and an athletic experience where we compete with the best around. I want to personally thank Peggy Carl for giving me this amazing opportunity to lead the men’s lacrosse team going forward and I am beyond excited to be a part of the future for this program. Go Vikings!”
A former standout at Western Connecticut, where he owns the single season faceoff percentage record 200-297 (67.3%), Small was a two-time All-Little East specialist for the Colonials and was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American during his final season in 2012.
Small graduated from Western Connecticut in 2012 where he was a Dean’s List and National Honor Society member. While majoring in both History and Political Science, Small earned Western Connecticut State’s Scholar Athlete-Award his senior year.
Small, who currently resides in Newton, began his coaching career with Becker College in 2012 as recruiting coordinator/offensive coordinator before being promoted to director of lacrosse operations in 2013.
