Lacrosse Icon Mark 'Redman' Burnam Dies After Battle with Cancer

Mark “Redman” Burnam, a national champion at Syracuse and longtime player and coach with the Haudenosaunee Nationals, died on Wednesday, Sept. 10 after battling cancer.

Family and friends had rallied the lacrosse community earlier this week to play wall ball to show support and appreciation for Burnam’s contribution to the game using the hashtag of #wallballforredman. Teams and individual from around the country, and world, did just that, helping Burnam and his family feel the impact of his life.

A traditional medicine game was also held on the Onondaga Reservation on Tuesday and Burnam was able to watch the game and see the outpouring of love and gratitude.

Lars Tiffany, the head coach at the University of Virginia, was an assistant coach for Burnam for the 2018 Haudenosaunee Nationals (then called the Iroquois Nationals) at the World Lacrosse championship in Israel and then served as the team’s head coach in 2023 in San Diego.

“Red did it all, and won them all,” Tiffany said. “We have one shot at life on this planet. We do our best to make an impact. It’s difficult to imagine comparing others to Red’s playing accomplishments on the lacrosse field / box floor while also recognizing what an inspiring coach he was. I saw this first-hand in Israel as he rallied the then Iroquois to great performances despite our travel and training obstacles as the head coach. And he was an ally and resource for me for the 2023 World Championships in San Diego. He poured his heart, his soul, his everything into Native lacrosse development and success."

Burnam was recently selected for enshrinement in the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. He graduated from Henniger (N.Y.) High School in 1980, where he helped the team win a state championship. He went on to play at Syracuse, helping the Orange to the 1983 NCAA title and a runner-up finish in 1984.

He played in the NLL for more than a decade, winning championships with the Buffalo Bandits in 1992 and 1993, and was a captain for Haudenosaunee teams five times in world championship competitions.

More recently, Burnam was active as a coach with the Haudenosaunee Nationals, including serving as the head coach for the 2018 senior team that won a bronze medal in Israel at the World Lacrosse championship.