Syracuse defensive coordinator John Odierna is set to be named the next head coach at Fairfield, according to reports by Inside Lacrosse and the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Odiena, the 2023 MAAC Coach of the Year at Manhattan, returns to the New York metropolitan area after a successful three-year stint with the Orange. Led by full-field threat Billy Dwan III and elite cover man Riley Figueiras — and an opportunistic man-down unit that became known as the Junkyard Dogs — Syracuse established a strong defensive identity under Odierna.
The Orange advanced to the final four in each of the last two seasons, ranking seventh nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency in 2025 and accounting for several clutch plays in Syracuse’s 2026 NCAA quarterfinal win over North Carolina.
Odierna previously spent seven seasons as the assistant coach at Manhattan before taking the reins from Drew Kelleher in 2023. He led the Jaspers to a 10-5 record and the MAAC championship game that year. He came from the Division III ranks, having played at Gettysburg and coached on the staffs at Colby and Stevens.
Fairfield has tabbed Odierna to replace Andrew Baxter, who went 43-47 in seven seasons with the Stags. After capturing national attention with a 9-0 start and 12-3 finish in 2025, Fairfield stumbled to a 4-10 mark this year and did not qualify for the CAA tournament.
According to USA Lacrosse Magazine contributor Kyle Devitte, Baxter has been hired as the new head coach at prep school power Taft (Conn.).
