Paul McGovern is entering his sixth season as a member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Men’s Lacrosse staff. He is the defensive/man down unit coordinator as well as the faceoff unit coordinator.
The 2018 season saw Coach McGovern take the defense and face-off units to new levels setting numerous program records. The defense yielded only 89 goals on the season, which was the first time in program history that the Griffins gave up less than 100 goals in a season. The defense finished the season ranked fourth overall in Division III in scoring defense at 6.36 goals a game, both program records. The man down unit finished will a kill rate of 83% which ranked 14th overall in NCAA, again both program bests. McGovern continued his record-setting season by guiding the face-off unit to a 61% success rate which ranked them 33rd overall in Division III. Joey Giordano was the primary face-off guy winning 66% of his draws. Both the team and individual face-off percentages are program records.
In 2015, Coach McGovern’s face off unit ranked 26th in NCAA Division III, with All American midfielder Tony McCraw winning 65% of his draws which ranked him in 16th in the country individually. Former Grififin Goalie John Black, under McGovern’s guidance, had his best season to date and finished seventh in Division III with a goals-against average of 6.34, and 20th in save percentage at 61%. Coach McGovern’s man-down unit ranked 42nd in DIII with a kill rate of 79%.
Prior to joining the Griffins, Paul was the Defensive Coordinator for Central Bucks East High School from 2010 to 2014. In 2010, C.B. East made it to the Pennsylvania State Semifinals before losing to the eventual champion Conestoga High School. Since the 2010 season, C.B. East has maintained a 5.3 GAA. Before joining C.B. East, Paul was the head coach at Council Rock South High School from 2006 to 2010, and previously coached at West Chester East High School, where they captured a the state title in 1988. Coach McGovern is the Bucks County Coordinator for the Keystone games and is also one of the founding partners in Bucks Select, a club team program in Bucks County.
He was the captain of the 1986 and 1987 West Chester University Men’s Lacrosse teams. The 1987 squad was ranked as high as 11th nationally, finishing the season ranked 17th in the nation among Division III schools. Paul was a close defenseman and face-off specialist until his senior year when he moved to long stick middie.
McGovern is a 1983 Lower Merion High School graduate, where he was captain of the football team and was a starting close defenseman and face-off specialist with the lacrosse team.
Paul has a degree in Exercise Physiology and is a Certified Personal Trainer with over 28 years of health and fitness experience. He began his career as an exercise physiologist working for Pat Croce and is now a Master Trainer. Paul was formerly Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. He has been the head trainer at some of the Philadelphia area’s most serious health clubs and has worked with many celebrity athletes to improve their game. Coach McGovern lives in Doylestown, Pa. with his wife Virginia, his son, Sean, and daughter, Erin.
