Ryan McAleavey

Bio

Ryan McAleavey was officially named the head coach of Bridgeport men's lacrosse on July 3, 2025. McAleavey completed his first campaign at the helm of the Purple Knights this past spring. 

Coach Mac's inaugural season at the helm of UB’s men's lacrosse program was one for the record books. Under his leadership, the Purple Knights established new program standards with nine overall victories and five conference wins, both marking the highest single-season totals in school history.

UB also achieved its best finish ever in the CACC standings, earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The historic campaign was highlighted by the program's first-ever victory over a nationally ranked opponent, as the Purple Knights knocked off No. 19 Bentley in overtime on March 18. That win was part of a perfect 6-0 record at home during the 2026 season.

Individually, UB's success was reflected by a league-best five selections to the CACC’s All-Conference First Team. Among those honorees was Connor Cullen, who added national recognition to his resume by earning Honorable Mention All-America accolades from USA Lacrosse.

McAleavey brought to Bridgeport a significant amount of Division II experience and success after a sensational tenure at Florida Tech from 2010-2018. Playing in one of the best leagues in the country (Sunshine State Conference), McAleavey piloted the program from its infancy to achieving a regular spot in the national rankings. In fact, during McAleavey's last season at Florida Tech in 2018, the Panthers went 9-6 overall and 6-1 in SSC play while ranking as high as No. 9 in the nation in the Nike/US Lacrosse Poll and No. 13 in the USILA Coaches Poll.

McAleavey's final campaign at Florida Tech in 2018 also featured a school-record eight straight wins, including consecutive one-goal victories over fifth-ranked Tampa and 10th-ranked Mount Olive. The Panthers ended up becoming the first team in SSC history to reach six conference wins in a single season.

Coach Mac's FIT squads also earned final rankings of 12th in the country in 2015 and 19th in the nation in 2017. They advanced all the way to the conference championship game in both of those seasons as well. McAleavey was also voted as the 2013 Deep South Conference Coach of the Year.

On an individual basis, the Panthers had three All-Americans, 15 first-team All-Conference players, 12 second-team All-Conference honorees and nine All-Freshman players from 2012-2018. Grant Hughes served as one of those All-Americans who then became the Panthers' first selection in the MLL Draft when he was taken by the Florida Launch in 2017.

Following his tenure at Florida Tech, McAleavey served as assistant coach at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla. from 2020-2022 and then head boy's lacrosse coach at Newsome High School in Lithia, Fla. over the past three years.

Prior to starting his coaching career, McAleavey was a stellar attackman who scored 190 career goals at Dowling College from 1996-1999. He was named an honorable mention All-American following a junior season in which he tallied 75 points on 60 goals and 15 assists.

McAleavey finished second in the country in goals per game in 1998 and was still Dowling's all-time leader in both career points and total goals scored when the college closed in 2016.