Coaches

Rick Berkman   Rick Berkman, Head Coach

Rick Berkman begins his ninth season as head men's golf coach at SUNY Potsdam. During Berkman's tenure, the Bears have emerged as a steady competitor in several regional and conference events.

Last season, the Berkman's squad won the Bears Fall Invitational, placed 6th at the ECAC Division III Men's Metro/Upstate Championships, and had several players recognized, by the conference for academic achievement.

In 2009, Berkman guided Potsdam to first-place finishes at the Bears Fall Invitational and the 10-team Oswego Invitational. The Bears' season culminated with a third-place finish at the ECAC Division III Men's Metro/Upstate Championships.

Berkman, who started the Potsdam men's golf program in 2001, also enters his 18th season as the head coach of the men's lacrosse program at SUNY Potsdam. Berkman also serves as a Physical Education Instructor at the school and is a member of the NCAA Lacrosse Advisory Committee.

In 1997, Berkman was named Empire Lacrosse League "Coach of the Year" after guiding Potsdam to its first-ever Empire Lacrosse League championship. He also took the Bears to the first of its five post-season appearances in 1997. One year later, Berkman was named the USLCA (Unites States Lacrosse Coaches Association) "Man of the Year". Berkman has also been recognized for his contributions to the growth of lacrosse in the North Country. He has organized several lacrosse clinics, tournaments and youth leagues since his arrival to Potsdam.

Prior to coaching at Potsdam, Berkman served as assistant lacrosse coach at Salisbury State, where he helped guide the Seagulls to three consecutive NCAA tournaments and their first NCAA national championship in 1994. As a player for the Seagulls, Berkman led the team to a national championship appearance in 1991 only to fall one goal short to eventual champion Hobart College. Following the season, he was named first team All-America and captained his team in the prestigious North/South game.

Coach Berkman and his wife, Jessica, reside in Potsdam with their two children, Tyler and Parker William. 

Bill Olin: Assistant Coach


Bill Olin enters his second season as assistant coach for the men's lacrosse and men's golf programs at SUNY Potsdam.

Olin brings vast experience in college lacrosse as a four-year starter at goaltender for Rutgers (N.J.) University. While at Rutgers, Olin was a three-time ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and two-year member of the All-ECAC Academic team.In 2010, he was named to the Big East Honor Roll.

For two years, Olin served as an assistant coach at Horseheads High School, where he managed the goaltenders and defense, developed and implemented defensive packages and monitored team conditioning. He also conducted the Horseheads Youth Bureau Summer Box Lacrosse Program in 2009.


Olin has also worked a number of lacrosse camps over the last five years, including four years at the All-American Lacrosse camp at Colgate University.

Olin earned his bachelor's in history with a minor in psychology from Rutgers in 2010. He is a graduate of Horseheads High School, where he holds school records for saves in one game, saves in a season and career saves.