A new era of SUNY Delhi lacrosse will begin with a coach who already knows his way around the SUNYAC. SUNY Delhi has named Andrew Gardner the next head coach of its men’s lacrosse program, bringing the former SUNY Potsdam defensive coordinator to Delhi as the Broncos prepare for their first season as a full-time member of the SUNYAC. Delhi’s move into the SUNYAC represents a major step forward for the Broncos, and Gardner arrives with recent experience competing against the exact programs he’ll now be tasked with beating.

Gardner spent the 2026 season serving as defensive coordinator at SUNY Potsdam, helping engineer one of the Bears’ best seasons in recent years. Potsdam finished 10-5 and advanced to the SUNYAC semifinals, with Gardner’s defense playing a major role in the program’s success. The Bears placed six players on the All-SUNYAC teams, with three earning First Team honors and three landing on the Second Team.

Gardner also coached one of the conference’s top young defensive players in freshman Damyn LeClair. LeClair was named the 2026 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year after emerging as a difference-maker for the Bears’ defense and ranking among the conference leaders in caused turnovers and ground balls. Now Gardner will go from helping Potsdam compete near the top of the SUNYAC to trying to build Delhi into a contender within the same league.

Gardner has quickly built his coaching resume around the defensive side of the field. Before joining Potsdam, he served as defensive coordinator at DeeTwoLax Wheeling University, where he helped the Cardinals reach the postseason in 2025 and coached multiple players to all-conference recognition.

Gardner is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, bringing experience in athlete development, performance training and injury prevention to Delhi. That combination could be particularly valuable as the Broncos transition into the SUNYAC and begin competing week after week against established DeeThreeLax programs. Gardner also knows the position that can make a good defense great. He was a four-year goaltender at Alfred University from 2014-18 before beginning his coaching career. Now, he’ll get his first opportunity to run a college program of his own.

There’s never an easy time to take over a college lacrosse program, but Gardner’s first season at Delhi comes with an added challenge. The Broncos are entering the SUNYAC full-time. That means Gardner isn’t simply inheriting a program and trying to maintain what has already been built. He’s taking over as Delhi enters a new competitive chapter against programs Gardner became very familiar with during his time at Potsdam. That SUNYAC experience appears to have been an important part of the decision.

“He has also spent time coaching in the SUNYAC, making him uniquely prepared to lead the program into that conference and our next chapter,” Delhi Director of Athletics Robb Munro said in the school’s announcement.

Munro also credited former head coach Sam Miller for the foundation already in place, saying the department believes Gardner can continue building on that work and elevate the program.

For Gardner, it’s also a return to familiar territory. A native of Whitney Point, New York, Gardner played collegiately at Alfred, earned his Master’s in Management from SUNY Potsdam in 2026 and has now landed his first collegiate head coaching opportunity back in Upstate New York.

Moving into an established conference like the SUNYAC presents an immediate measuring stick for Delhi. The Broncos will now have an opportunity to test themselves against programs Gardner already knows, and he’ll have to build a roster capable of handling that jump on a consistent basis. His defensive background gives Delhi an identity to build around. His SUNYAC experience gives him familiarity with the league. And his experience at both DeeTwolax and DeeThreeLax levels gives him a broader perspective as he takes over his first collegiate program.

Gardner helped Potsdam reach the SUNYAC semifinals in 2026. Next season, he’ll be standing on a different sideline trying to build another SUNYAC contender. For SUNY Delhi, the move into the conference represents the beginning of a new chapter. Now the Broncos have their coach to lead them into it.