Riverdale, NY (September 1, 2004)-Manhattan Athletic Director Robert Byrnes announced today that James Drivas has been named as the head coach for the women's lacrosse team.

?We are very fortunate to hire James to head our women's lacrosse program,? commented Byrnes. ?He is a talented coach who has a bright future.?

Drivas comes to Manhattan after a nine year coaching career at Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg, NY. In 1995, he created the lacrosse program at Tappan Zee coaching the junior varsity squad for two years until the program was transitioned to a varsity level. During his eight years of coaching at the varsity level he has earned many accolades such as Rockland County Coach of the Year in 2004, and League II A Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004. His team was League II A Champions and Division II Sectional Runners Up for the last two years. He was also the assistant coach for the Hudson Valley Empire State Games team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, Hudson Valley took home the Empire Games silver medal.

Along with coaching, Divas has been teaching grades 6th ?“ 8th for 11 years at South Orangetown Middle School. For three years he was the Curriculum Coordinator for Physical Education and Health where he developed and implemented curriculum K-12. He currently holds a New York State Provisional Certificate for Health and Physical Education K-12. Divas graduated from Springfield College in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in health fitness and continued his education earning his Physical Education and Health Teaching Certification at Manhattan College in 1991 and then earned his Masters in Science in Special Education at the City College of New York in 2000.

Divas is inheriting a team that went 11-8-0 overall in 2004 and earned a 3-3 MAAC record. The Lady J's won the MAAC Championships and played in their first ever NCAA Play-in Game.