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  Walter Alessi

Walter Alessi

Player Profile

Position:
Head Coach

Walter Alessi has enjoyed a legendary career at MIT, collecting numerous postseason honors since beginning his Tech voyage in 1975. With a 213-219 record in tote, Alessi ranks first all-time in wins at the Institute by a substantial margin.

Receiving a B.S. in physical education from UMass in 1968, Alessi started by coaching at Rogers H.S. and St. George's School in Middletown, R.I., while earning an M.Ed. at Rhode Island College in 1973. Upon departing St. George's, the lacrosse most valuable player award was named in his honor. From 1973-75, Alessi taught and coached at Westwood (Mass.) H.S., where he started the lacrosse program on a club basis. In 1981, Walter earned a second M.Ed. from Boston State College.

Alessi is presently secretary/treasurer of the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee. He is a past president of NEILA, served on the New England rating board and ECAC Division III Lacrosse Tournament selection committee, and chaired the East-West All-Star Game for many years.

In 1995, Alessi was named the New England Division III Coach of the Year and is a seven-time Pilgrim League Coach of the Year.

Alessi's 1999 election to the Hall of Fame of the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the Lacrosse Foundation is simply the latest in a long series of lacrosse honors. Alessi was the initial recipient of the Vincent Lobello Sportsmanship Award in 1980, and was a finalist for the USILA Coach of the Year award that same season. In 1977, MIT won the Marster's Award as the most improved team in New England.

From 1975-2006, Alessi served as the head coach of MIT's men's soccer program. A two-time NEWMAC Coach of the Year, he compiled a career record of 204-252-30. In 2003, Alessi led MIT to its first NCAA Tournament appearance, which resulted in a spot at the national quarterfinal to go along with a No. 8 position in the national rankings. He was named the New England Coach of the Year and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors. The following season, the Engineers captured the program's first ECAC Division III New England Championship.