Jim Berkman, All-Time Winningest College Lacrosse Coach, Retires

Jim Berkman, the all-time winningest coach in college lacrosse history, announced his retirement Tuesday after a 38-year Hall of Fame career at Salisbury.

Berkman ends his legendary coaching career with the most national championships (13), the highest winning percentage (90.2) and the most wins (678) across all divisions of college lacrosse. During a career that saw him become the only men's lacrosse coach to reach the 500- and 600-win plateau, he guided the Sea Gulls to seven perfect seasons.

The four-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2013 and the IMLCA Hall of Fame in 2023. Berkman led his teams to the final four 28 times, won 28 conference championships and amassed a 105-game winning streak in conference games between 1995 and 2009.

"I'm proud of all that we were able to accomplish in my time at SU, but none of it would have been possible without the hundreds of players that dedicated their valuable time to the program," Berkman said in a press release issued by Salisbury. “As a coach, I tried to put the players in the best position to succeed, and so many times our players delivered. I'm proud of all they were able to accomplish both while playing here in the maroon and gold, and what they've done as men after leaving the University.

During his tenure, Berkman’s Salisbury program produced 310 All-Americans, 13 National Players of the Year and 59 national positional players of the year. In addition, he has seen 15 of his players drafted to the pro ranks, which is the most by any Division III program. He also takes great pride in how many of his former players remain connected to the game.

“One of the statistics I am most proud of is the number of former players and assistant coaches who are giving so much back to the game,” Berkman said. “Over 200 players and coaches are building programs at all levels including youth, high school, college and in professional leagues."

Originally from Watertown, N.Y., Berkman starred as an All-American midfielder on the lacrosse field and was a two-time team MVP on the basketball court at Saint Lawrence. After graduating in 1982, Berkman began establishing his roots on Maryland’s Eastern Shore by spending two years as a graduate assistant coach for the Sea Gulls.

He began his head coaching career at SUNY Potsdam in 1985, leading the Bears to a school-record nine wins, before returning to coach men's basketball at Saint Lawrence from 1985-88. The following year, Berkman began his tenure at then-Salisbury State University and led the Sea Gulls to the 1989 NCAA quarterfinals, starting a run of 37 straight NCAA tournament appearances.

Salisbury has named longtime Sea Gull assistant coach Justin Axel as its interim head coach. Axel has a deep connection to Salisbury, having first served as an assistant coach with the program 2002-07. In 2007, he was named head coach at Eastern Connecticut State, compiling an 81-42 record and winning four conference championships. Axel returned to the Sea Gulls as Berkman’s top assistant in 2014 and has been a part of seven NCAA Division III national championships over his two stints in Salisbury.