It's hard to believe that Jim Berkman's first game as head coach of the Salisbury University men's lacrosse team ended in defeat.
It's even tougher to grasp that Berkman has lost just 29 times in the last 20 years as the architect of the Sea Gulls' program. In a coaching career that's cultivated seven Division III national titles, the Watertown native is on the verge of another milestone.
Berkman can become the NCAA's all-time career wins leader with a victory today in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Salisbury, the defending national champion, hosts Ohio Wesleyan Universityat 7:30 p.m. in Salisbury, Md.
Berkman is tied with longtime Army coach Jack Emmer atop the list with 326 wins.
"I haven't thought about it a whole lot," Berkman said in a phone interview earlier this week. "Everyone has given attention to it. Reflecting on it, I feel very fortunate to coach as many good players."
Berkman, a Watertown High School and St. Lawrence University graduate, didn't start with many players in his first year at Salisbury. He remembered having 25 players suit up as the Sea Gulls traveled to Nazareth College for the season opener in 1989. It was Berkman's first game as the head coach, which he said went "pretty badly."
Salisbury finished with a 9-5 record and advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals that season. Berkman would only lose five games in a season one more time in the next 19 years. He picked up a few quality transfers and became a persuasive recruiter. His nephew, Rick — who is the head coach at SUNY Potsdam — helped the Sea Gulls reach their first national championship game in 1991. Rick was also an All-American that year.
Berkman was an assistant coach at St. Lawrence University for four years before landing his first head coaching position at SUNY Potsdam in 1988. After leading the Bears to a 9-5 record, he took over at Salisbury the following year. He has compiled a staggering 317-30 mark as the Sea Gulls' head man heading into today's game. In the past six years, the Sea Gulls are 119-2 and have claimed four national titles.
"It certainly has a lot to do with consistency," Berkman said. "Our coaches have been former players, so they passed down the expectations and strategies. We've really worked at it."
The Sea Gulls boast an unblemished regular-season record (18-0) for the fifth consecutive year and have won 41 straight games. Berkman has been amazed with this year's squad since it's maintained the program's prestige.
"Last year's team was one of the best we've had," Berkman said. "We lost our long-stick midfielder, three defensemen, our starting goalie and two midfielders. We lost eight All-Americans in all."
Berkman is savoring this year's success since he and his son, Kylor — a junior midfielder for Salisbury — captured coach and player of the year honors in the Capital Athletic Conference. He also is four wins away from claiming his eighth national championship and becoming one of the game's all-time great tacticians.
Berkman has captained a dynasty that's lasted over a decade. But just as he did over 20 years ago, he humbly commends the players for their effort.
"I never scored a goal, I never stopped a shot, and I never scooped up a ground ball," Berkman said. "It's as much their milestone as it is mine."
