Army West Point Athletics
Former Head Coach Jack Emmer Presented With 2026 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award
May 29, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former Army West Point men's lacrosse head coach Jack Emmer earned recognition as the winner of the 2026 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award at the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on Thursday night.
Current Army Jack Emmer Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Joe Alberici presented the award to Emmer during the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, hosted at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night.
Emmer took the reins of the men's lacrosse program at West Point in 1984, serving at the helm for the Black Knights for 22 seasons.
During his time with the team, Emmer guided the Black Knights to their second final four appearance in program history, became the second Army head coach to reach 100 wins with the Black Knights, and coached 27 All-Americans.
Emmer led the Black Knights to the NCAA tournament eight times with three consecutive appearances in 2003, 2004, and 2005 before handing off control of the program to former assistant Alberici for the 2006 season.
A successful leader at Cortland and Washington & Lee before his tenure on the Banks of the Hudson, Emmer is one of only two coaches in lacrosse history to lead three programs to NCAA semifinal showings.
One of the most notable coaches in lacrosse history, Emmer's career on the sidelines was defined by leadership, innovation, and sustained excellence.
In a statement about Emmer's selection for the 2026 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award Chairman of the Tewaaraton Foundation Jeffrey Harvey stated, "Jack Emmer's career reflects everything the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award represents. His leadership, innovation, and commitment to mentoring generations of players and coaches have left an indelible mark on the sport. His impact goes far beyond wins and championships."
Current Army Jack Emmer Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Joe Alberici presented the award to Emmer during the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, hosted at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night.
Emmer took the reins of the men's lacrosse program at West Point in 1984, serving at the helm for the Black Knights for 22 seasons.
During his time with the team, Emmer guided the Black Knights to their second final four appearance in program history, became the second Army head coach to reach 100 wins with the Black Knights, and coached 27 All-Americans.
Emmer led the Black Knights to the NCAA tournament eight times with three consecutive appearances in 2003, 2004, and 2005 before handing off control of the program to former assistant Alberici for the 2006 season.
A successful leader at Cortland and Washington & Lee before his tenure on the Banks of the Hudson, Emmer is one of only two coaches in lacrosse history to lead three programs to NCAA semifinal showings.
One of the most notable coaches in lacrosse history, Emmer's career on the sidelines was defined by leadership, innovation, and sustained excellence.
In a statement about Emmer's selection for the 2026 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award Chairman of the Tewaaraton Foundation Jeffrey Harvey stated, "Jack Emmer's career reflects everything the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award represents. His leadership, innovation, and commitment to mentoring generations of players and coaches have left an indelible mark on the sport. His impact goes far beyond wins and championships."
Brigid Duffy West Point Career Feature
Wednesday, May 27
Class of 2026 DISMISSED
Saturday, May 23
Army Women's Rugby Senior Spotlight
Monday, May 11
Army vs. LIU Baseball Game Highlights
Thursday, April 30