Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Georgetown on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 16
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Final
Men's Lacrosse
12
vs Georgetown
16
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Danowski, Chrest Erbe Inducted into USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame
1/6/2024 10:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE, Md. – Duke men's lacrosse head coach John Danowski and former women's star Katie Chrest Erbe were inducted into the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in a ceremony held Saturday evening in Baltimore, Md.
Danowski and Chrest Erbe were inducted along with Lynn Bowers, Kyle Harrison, Laura Hebert, Bob Shaw, Kyle Sweeney, and Devon Wills.
Danowski is the third Blue Devil on the men's side to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, joining Kevin Cassese and Eugene Corrigan. Chrest Erbe is the first Blue Devil on the women's side to earn the distinction.
"He loves relationships," said Matt Danowski when introducing his father. "He loves building teams. The wins and the losses, they come and they go, but creating a really special and unique experience every year for that team is something he looks forward to. When he got his opportunity at Duke he just did what he always did. It was just at different place on a different scale. He didn't have to change. I think that was the beauty of it and why he was the perfect person for the job because it's just who he is."
"I stand before you tonight possessing a veritable warehouse of gifts – each instrumental in facilitating my ascent in a lot of ways," said Danowski. "This recognition is as much for you as it is for me. I happened to be touched my magnanimity. The paramount gifts - the gifts of family. My daughter Kate – wife, mother, teacher, coach. My son Matt – husband, father, coach. My wife Trish, who has taught me how to love. Love the preeminent gift. I love you all."
Cemented as one of the top coaches in college lacrosse, Danowski has led the Duke men's lacrosse team to unprecedented success and himself to the top of the Division I men's lacrosse wins list during his tenure in Durham. Danowski was introduced as Duke's eighth head men's lacrosse coach July 21, 2006 and quickly led the Blue Devils to some of the most successful lacrosse seasons in school history and ultimately to three NCAA Championships – 2010, 2013 and 2014.
In Danowski's 17 seasons at the helm of the Blue Devils lacrosse program, he has compiled an impressive 240-74 record in leading Duke to six ACC titles, 12 appearances in the NCAA semifinals, including eight straight from 2007-14, six in the NCAA title match and ultimately to the 2010, 2013 and 2014 national championships.
"Duke was an unexpected gift," Danowski said. "Never anticipating a departure from Long Island, yet Mike Pressler encouraged me and prodded me to apply for the position he was forcibly ousted. The gift - mentoring a group of young men undaunted by their place in the world, resilient among vitriol enveloping their lives, facing the world with grace and character. Matt Danowski and Peter Lamade taught me the meaning of what it is to be a Duke man."
Following his success with the U.S. Men's National Team in 2018, USA Lacrosse made the unprecedented decision to keep Danowski at the helm for a second term. Danowski made history in 2023, leading the United States to the Gold Medal again, becoming the first coach to win two world championships.
Chrest Erbe's induction comes following a storied career headlined by the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy as the nation's top player. She also was enshrined into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. From 2003-06, Chrest Erbe helped Duke to a four-year ledger of 61-18 with three ACC regular season championships, one ACC Tournament title and four NCAA Tournament berths including two appearances in the NCAA Semifinals.
A two-time All-America pick, Chrest Erbe was the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year and went on to garner ACC Player of the Year accolades in both 2005 and 2006. As a junior, she guided the Blue Devils to the first ACC Tournament crown in program history and was named the event's Most Valuable Player, after totaling five goals and three assists in wins over North Carolina and Virginia.
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Danowski and Chrest Erbe were inducted along with Lynn Bowers, Kyle Harrison, Laura Hebert, Bob Shaw, Kyle Sweeney, and Devon Wills.
Danowski is the third Blue Devil on the men's side to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, joining Kevin Cassese and Eugene Corrigan. Chrest Erbe is the first Blue Devil on the women's side to earn the distinction.
"He loves relationships," said Matt Danowski when introducing his father. "He loves building teams. The wins and the losses, they come and they go, but creating a really special and unique experience every year for that team is something he looks forward to. When he got his opportunity at Duke he just did what he always did. It was just at different place on a different scale. He didn't have to change. I think that was the beauty of it and why he was the perfect person for the job because it's just who he is."
"I stand before you tonight possessing a veritable warehouse of gifts – each instrumental in facilitating my ascent in a lot of ways," said Danowski. "This recognition is as much for you as it is for me. I happened to be touched my magnanimity. The paramount gifts - the gifts of family. My daughter Kate – wife, mother, teacher, coach. My son Matt – husband, father, coach. My wife Trish, who has taught me how to love. Love the preeminent gift. I love you all."
Cemented as one of the top coaches in college lacrosse, Danowski has led the Duke men's lacrosse team to unprecedented success and himself to the top of the Division I men's lacrosse wins list during his tenure in Durham. Danowski was introduced as Duke's eighth head men's lacrosse coach July 21, 2006 and quickly led the Blue Devils to some of the most successful lacrosse seasons in school history and ultimately to three NCAA Championships – 2010, 2013 and 2014.
In Danowski's 17 seasons at the helm of the Blue Devils lacrosse program, he has compiled an impressive 240-74 record in leading Duke to six ACC titles, 12 appearances in the NCAA semifinals, including eight straight from 2007-14, six in the NCAA title match and ultimately to the 2010, 2013 and 2014 national championships.
"Duke was an unexpected gift," Danowski said. "Never anticipating a departure from Long Island, yet Mike Pressler encouraged me and prodded me to apply for the position he was forcibly ousted. The gift - mentoring a group of young men undaunted by their place in the world, resilient among vitriol enveloping their lives, facing the world with grace and character. Matt Danowski and Peter Lamade taught me the meaning of what it is to be a Duke man."
Following his success with the U.S. Men's National Team in 2018, USA Lacrosse made the unprecedented decision to keep Danowski at the helm for a second term. Danowski made history in 2023, leading the United States to the Gold Medal again, becoming the first coach to win two world championships.
Chrest Erbe's induction comes following a storied career headlined by the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy as the nation's top player. She also was enshrined into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. From 2003-06, Chrest Erbe helped Duke to a four-year ledger of 61-18 with three ACC regular season championships, one ACC Tournament title and four NCAA Tournament berths including two appearances in the NCAA Semifinals.
A two-time All-America pick, Chrest Erbe was the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year and went on to garner ACC Player of the Year accolades in both 2005 and 2006. As a junior, she guided the Blue Devils to the first ACC Tournament crown in program history and was named the event's Most Valuable Player, after totaling five goals and three assists in wins over North Carolina and Virginia.
"The game of lacrosse has touched so many parts of my life, in so many ways. It's opened doors for me and given me opportunities and relationships that I never could've imagined. For that, I am so eternally grateful. I'm here because of Kerstin [Kimel] who gave me a life changing opportunity at Duke. She pushed me on the field and coached me through life and continues to be one of my friends. I'm just forever grateful for that opportunity you presented me. I was so lucky to play on really great teams with really great teammates who were committed and competitive and pushed me, but also supported me and loved me. We would go to battle together and I have so many fond memories with those people. I do feel like I'm just a representative of all we accomplished on the field. It's been an incredible journey and a fun one. I feel blessed beyond measure. I'm so humble and so grateful." - Katie Chrest Erbe
For more information on Duke women's and men's lacrosse, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeWLAX" and "DukeMLAX".#GoDuke
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