2013 CAA COACH OF THE YEAR 2011 CAA CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Tamboni completed his third season in 2013 by leading the Nittany Lions to one of their greatest seasons in program history while celebrating its 100th season. The Nittany Lions set new records for wins (12) and earned the program's first outright regular season conference title by sweeping the CAA with a 6-0 record. PSU rattled off 10 straight wins during the months of March, April and May to earn the school's third NCAA bid and first chance to host an NCAA game.
Tambroni was named CAA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (2011), while goalkeeper Austin Kaut (under Tambroni's tutelage) was named Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Award for the nation's best goalie. Also, Kaut was CAA Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman TJ Sanders was named Rookie of the Year and the Nittany Lions placed six on the All-CAA First Team.
During the 2012 campaign, Tambroni led the Nittany Lions to a second-place CAA finish with two USILA All-Americans and six All-CAA honorees. Penn State finished with a 9-6 overall record and a 5-1 mark in conference action.
The 2011 CAA Co-Coach of the Year, Tambroni led the Nittany Lions to a 7-7 record and their first-ever CAA tournament berth during his first year at the program's helm.
In 2011, eight Nittany Lions garnered All-CAA recognition and freshman goalkeeper Austin Kaut earned Rookie of the Year honors while being named a USILA Honorable Mention All-American.
Prior to Penn State, Tambroni spent 10 seasons as head coach at Cornell (2001-10). He guided the Big Red to a 109-40 record and three NCAA Final Four appearances (2007, 2009-10), including the 2009 national championship game.
Tambroni was named USILA Division I Coach of the Year following the 2009 season and was tabbed the 2007 and 2009 Field Turf/NCAA Division I Coach of the Year. Tambroni was also the 2004 and 2009 Ithaca Journal Male Coach of the Year and a three-time National Coach of the Week.
While at Cornell, Tambroni became the 10th-fastest coach to reach the 100-win mark when he accomplished the feat in his 134th career game in March 2010.
During his tenure, his players earned 37 first-team All-Ivy honors, including five Ivy League awards, and three conference Rookie of the Year selections. In addition, 39 players garnered All-America recognition.
Prior to serving as Cornell's head coach, he spent four seasons as a Big Red assistant coach (1997-2000). Tambroni also served as assistant coach at Loyola College in 1997 and at his alma mater, Hobart College, for three seasons. With the Statesmen, he helped the program reach the 1994 NCAA Division III national championship game.
A 1992 graduate, Tambroni earned his bachelor's degree in American studies. He earned first-team All-America honors as a senior and was twice named a second-team All-American (1990-91). The MVP of the 1990 NCAA title game, Tambroni helped lead the team to back-to-back NCAA championships (1990-91) and left Hobart tied for seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 202 points.
Before embarking upon his collegiate coaching career, Tambroni coached the Heaton Mersey Lacrosse Club of the English Lacrosse Union for one year and served as a visiting coach for the Czech-American Lacrosse Foundation in Prague in the summer of 1996.
Tambroni and his wife, Michelle, have three daughters, Carissa, Madison and Ella. Michelle played field hockey at Penn State from 1988-90 and earned All-America honors as a senior.
