Buckeyes Add Danehy to Staff as Offensive Coordinator
6/29/2026 4:47:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Ryan Danehy comes to Columbus with nearly 20 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and pro levels including serving as the Mercer head coach the last four seasons.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State men's lacrosse and head coach Nick Myers announced the hiring of veteran coach Ryan Danehy Monday as an assistant coach ahead of the 2027 season.Â
In his role with the Buckeye program, Danehy will serve as the offensive coordinator while also assisting in game planning, scouting and recruiting efforts.Â
"I am excited to add Ryan to the staff," Coach Myers said. "He has a wealth of experience coaching including four years as a head coach as well as coaching experience at the pro, international and high Division I level. Along the way, he has helped develop high-level talent and coordinate very skilled offenses including working with pros like Paul Rabil and Rob Pannell. It was easy to see him fitting in and helping make a big difference at Ohio State."Â
Most recently, Danehy was the head coach at Mercer for the past four seasons where he had nine players earned All-Conference honors in 2026 alone and the Bears to the ASUN Conference Championship game. In total, Danehy coached 16 All-ASUN selections in his time. Â
In addition to strong offensive stats, Danehy's teams also helped train goalie Colin Kelley who finished as the program's all-time leader with 722 career saves. Additionally, he tutored one of the best face-off players in the country in Ashton Wood who led the ASUN and ranked sixth nationally with a 0.623 percentage in 2022.Â
Danehy arrived in Macon after a four-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Bucknell University. In 2022, he helped the Bison to a Patriot League Tournament berth and oversaw an offense that averaged 13.53 goals per game as the 19th-best scoring offense in Division I lacrosse (also a program record). Under his coaching, Connor Davis earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year with 43 goals while Harry Wellford earned 2nd Team All-Patriot honors as well. For the first time in Bucknell program history, three players scored over 50 points in the same season.Â
"I love this move to bring Ryan to Ohio State. It will be great for both sides. Ryan brings a ton of energy and enthusiasm whenever he steps on the field and I know that this opportunity will give him a chance to showcase that. Ryan is intelligent, creative, hard working and relentless in his daily approach." - Frank Fedorjaka, Bucknell Head CoachÂ
Prior to Bucknell, Danehy spent two seasons at the University of Pennsylvania and was also the offensive coordinator for the New York Lizards, a Major League lacrosse squad (now PLL).Â
With the Lizards, Danehy led a potent offense that averaged 15.06 goals per game, good for second in the MLL, during the 2018 campaign. Four Lizards ranked in the MLL's top 15 in scoring, with Rob Pannell setting a league record with 78 points. Pannell was ultimately named the MLL MVP and Offensive MVP for his efforts. Will Manny (2nd, 62 points), Joe Walters (8th, 52 points) and Paul Rabil (13th, 45 points) joined Pannell in the top 15; Rabil notably became the MLL's career scoring leader by registering his 596th career point that season.Â
"Ryan is an incredible coach someone who will get the best out of his players and develop them to their highest.  He's a great motivator and will have Ohio State offense super prepared and ready to go from day one." - Joe Spallina, California Redwoods GM/Stony Brook Women's Lacrosse Head CoachÂ
From 2012 to 2014, Danehy served as Michigan's offensive coordinator. During his final season in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines set a program record with 152 goals, which stood until 2017. Danehy also mentored Michigan's first All-ECAC First Team selection, Kyle Jackson, and four All-ECAC Rookie Team honorees.Â
Danehy broke into collegiate coaching at Dartmouth, his alma mater. After spending his first two seasons as an assistant offensive coordinator, he transitioned to goalie coordinator and assistant defensive coordinator in 2009. He later moved to offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 2011, spending two seasons in those roles. Beyond his on-field and recruiting responsibilities, Danehy played a key role in fundraising and monitoring the educational development of his players.Â
In June 2017, Danehy was named the president and chairman of the Turkey Lacrosse Association; he led the country's team that competed at the 2018 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championships. He previously coached at the international level in 2015, when he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the U-19 Team USA Indoor squad, which finished fourth overall at the World Games.Â
A native of Billerica, Mass., Danehy graduated from Dartmouth in 2006. A four-year starter for the Big Green lacrosse team, he posted 84 points (73g-11a), including four (3g-1a) in the program's first NCAA tournament appearance against Syracuse in 2003. He also was a long snapper for the football program.Â
Following his collegiate playing career, Danehy was selected 49th overall by the Boston Cannons in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse draft. He went on to spend five years in the league, playing for the Cannons and Chicago Machine.Â
