Kevin Unterstein Named Men's Lacrosse Assistant Coach

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Kevin Unterstein, who spent the last eight seasons at Hofstra University, has been named an assistant coach for the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse program. UNC head coach Joe Breschi made the announcement on Thursday.

Unterstein spent eight years total on the Hofstra men's lacrosse staff including the past five years as associate head coach.

Recently, as a player, he was a member of the gold-medal winning United States Men's National Team that competed in the 2018 FIL World Championships in Israel as well as a member of the New York Lizards in Major League Lacrosse (MLL).

"I'm humbled and honored to have the opportunity to join the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse program. I'm truly looking forward to helping bring continued success to such a storied program," said Unterstein. "I want to thank head coach Joe Breschi, athletic director Bubba Cunningham, and the UNC administration for such an incredible opportunity. I'd also like to thank the athletics department and administration at Hofstra University for eight seasons with an amazing coaching staff under the direction of head coach Seth Tierney. I hope to contribute to the growth, continued achievements, and success of the UNC men's lacrosse program. I'm excited to help guide our student athletes in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence."

During his coaching tenure at Hofstra, he has worked with the defense, the face-off specialists and the man-down unit. Virtually every year, those units put up some impressive numbers in the CAA and nationally. Last year, the Pride led the Colonial Athletic Association and was second in the nation in scoring defense with a 7.86 goals against average. In 2017, the Pride ranked second in the CAA and 14th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 8.79 goals per game. In 2016, Hofstra led the conference in face-off winning percentage with a .541 mark while the defense was second in the conference and 13th in the nation allowing 8.53 goals per game. In 2015, Hofstra led the CAA and was eighth in the nation in scoring defense (8.44) and was second in the conference and sixth in the country in turnovers per contest (12.1). In 2013, the Pride ranked first in turnovers per game (11.36) and third in scoring defense (7.79 gpga). In 2011, the Pride led the nation in scoring defense (6.56 gpga) and ranked sixth in face-off winning percentage (.622) and turnover average (13.69).

"I'm thrilled to welcome Kevin, his wife Melissa and daughter Noa to the Carolina lacrosse family," said Tar Heel head coach Joe Breschi. "To add an impressive young defensive coordinator and face-off coach to the staff with a very strong resume both on and off the field, is extraordinary. Coming off winning the gold medal on the field with team USA this summer and a tremendous track record of coaching success at Hofstra, Kevin will bring a toughness and edge to our team defense. I can't wait for him to get started this fall."

A 2008 graduate of Hofstra with a degree in sociology, Unterstein enjoyed a stellar playing career as a short-stick defensive midfielder from 2005 through 2008. As a senior, he recorded a team-leading 70 ground balls while helping to guide the Pride to the CAA title and the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, he was an All-CAA first team selection and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and the CAA Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player. As a junior in 2007, Unterstein earned USILA All-America honorable mention honors and was named to the All-CAA second team as well as the All-CAA Tournament team. In 2006, Kevin, his twin brother, Mike, and their older brother, Chris, combined to help lead Hofstra to a 17-2 record, a No. 2 national ranking and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. He was also named to the All-CAA Rookie Team as a freshman.

Following graduation in 2008, he became an assistant under Bill Tierney at Princeton in 2009, working with the defense and face-off specialists. He followed Tierney to Denver in 2010 to help coordinate the Pioneers' man-down unit and work specifically with the defensive midfielders and with assistant coach Trevor Tierney with the defense and the overall face-off game.

Unterstein has also played professionally in Major League Lacrosse, playing for the Long Island/New York Lizards in 2009, and 2012 through the present, and the Denver Outlaws in 2010 and 2011.

A native of Shoreham, N.Y., he was a high school All-America at Shoreham-Wading River High, where he was part of four Suffolk County championships and one state championship.

Unterstein and his wife Melissa are proud parents of a daughter, Noa (1), who was born in October 2017.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Related Videos