Siena University men's lacrosse coach, Wading River native, remembered after tragic death
Section XI Athletics said Gleason leaves behind a "legacy of leadership, kindness, and dedication to the sport of lacrosse."
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Siena University men's lacrosse head coach Liam Gleason is being remembered on Long Island after the Wading River native tragically died earlier this week.
Gleason, who played four years of lacrosse at Shoreham-Wading River High School, died Wednesday at Albany Medical Center from a traumatic head injury after suffering a fall at his home just days earlier.
He was 41.
Gleason was part of the team that won the state championship in 2002 before graduating in 2003. He went on to play two years of lacrosse at Adelphi University before finishing his collegiate career and graduating from the University at Albany in 2007.
He took over the Saints lacrosse program in 2018 and was just named Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I men's lacrosse coach of the year after leading the program to its fourth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
Gleason is survived by his wife of 12 years, Jaclyn, their three children, including daughter Kennedy and sons Penn and Tate, as well as his parents, Kevin and Susan, according to Siena University.
The school is holding a public funeral service on Saturday at 11 a.m. inside the UHY Center on the Siena University campus.
Shoreham-Wading River Board of Education Vice President Jim Lauckhardt said in a statement, "The Shoreham-Wading River School District is deeply saddened by the passing of Liam Gleason. I had the privilege of playing lacrosse with Liam throughout our childhood and high school, and he always stood out as an exceptionally kind teammate, a dedicated competitor, and a genuinely good person. His impact on the lacrosse community, as a standout player and coach at Albany and most recently as the head coach at Siena, reflects the same character and work ethic he showed here at home. Our hearts are with his family, including his wife and three children, and his parents who continue to be a part of the SWR community, as well as with his friends, former teammates, and the Siena and UAlbany lacrosse programs during this difficult time."
