Coaches

  Rick Berkman: Head Coach

Rick Berkman, Men's Lacrosse coach Rick Berkman, the 2007 SUNYAC Coach of the Year, recently completed his fourteenth season as the head coach of the men's lacrosse program at SUNY Potsdam. During Berkman's tenure the Bears have had nine winning seasons, twelve post-season appearances, a conference championship and amassed an impressive 47-37 mark in conference play.

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 eleven post-season appearances in 1995.

Coach Berkman was named the 1998 USLCA (Unites States Lacrosse Coaches Association) "Man of the Year". Berkman was 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.

In 1999, the Bears reached the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Championship game and came within one goal of winning their first post-season title.

Potsdam set a school record for wins in 2000 with 10 and was also an ECAC semi-finalist reaching the post-season for the fourth consecutive year.

From 2001 through 2005, the Bears finished in fourth place in their SUNYAC conference which qualified them for post-season action each year. Potsdam faced SUNY Cortland each year from '01 through '05 when they lost close first round tournament games. In 2007 the men finished 3rd before losing to Geneseo in the SUNYAC and RIT in the ECAC.

Berkman also serves as a Physical Education Instructor at SUNY Potsdam and is on the NCAA Lacrosse Advisory Committee. He also coaches the Men's Varsity Golf team.

Prior to Potsdam Berkman served as assistant 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. That season he was named a first team All-American and captained his team in the prestigious North/South game.

Coach Berkman and his wife Jessica reside in the town of Potsdam with their children Tyler and Parker. 

  Ben Gaebel: Assistant Coach

gaebel_72dpi Ben Gaebel joined the SUNY Potsdam community in the fall of 2007 as an assistant coach for both men's lacrosse and men's golf. His lacrosse responsibilities are focused primarily upon coaching the defense and goalies. Ben is also heavily involved with player recruiting.

Coach Gaebel also works in many lacrosse camps and clinics including those at: Lemoyne, Hobart, Syracuse, Carthage, and Syracuse University. Additionally Ben has worked in the Powell Brothers Lacrosse Camps.

A 2006 graduate of SUNY Cortland, Gaebel was an All-American goalie for the Red Dragons and starting goalie of their '06 National Champion team. Ben was also named to the All-SUNYAC team in both 2005 and 2006. He finished at Cortland with a major in Athletic Training.

Prior to his illustrious college lacrosse career, Ben was an All-Northern goalie at Carthage High School. He was named a Frontier League All-Star in both 2001 and 2002. During his tenure at Carthage, his team twice finished as runner-ups for the New York State Championship. Gaebel also played varsity basketball for two years and football for three years  

 

Rob Van Beek Assistant Coach

vanbeek_72dpi Rob will be joining the Bears as an assistant coach in his first year for the 2009 season.  He will be primarily working with the midfielders and the face-off unit for the Bears.  He is a very distinguished player at both the collegiate and professional level.

Coach Van Beek played his college lacrosse at St.Vincent College and comes to the Bears from Vancouver, BC.  He is currently in his fifth season as a professional lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Wings.  Rob was the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NLL draft and during his rookie season he was the youngest player in the National Lacrosse League.  He is currently in the top twenty all time scoring leaders for the Philadelphia Wings franchise.

Prior to his collegiate and professional playing days, Rob was a six time All-Star in the Junior Box Lacrosse circuit and was the overall #1draft pick in the Western Lacrosse Association.  He was also voted the league MVP of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Rob was also a very established soccer and football player during his high school days, garnering MVP honors in both sports as well as First Team All-Star status during his junior and senior seasons.