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The End of a Dynasty: Salisbury Legend Jim Berkman Retires as the Greatest Coach in College Lacrosse History

College lacrosse—and Maryland sports as a whole—closed one of its greatest chapters this week.

After 38 unforgettable seasons leading the Salisbury University men’s lacrosse program, legendary head coach Jim Berkman announced his retirement. He leaves the sidelines as the winningest coach in college lacrosse history with 678 career victories, 13 NCAA Division III National Championships, and a legacy that may never be matched.

His departure marks the end of one of the most dominant coaching careers in the history of collegiate athletics—not just lacrosse.

Assistant coach Justin Axel has been named interim head coach, inheriting one of the premier programs in the nation.

More Than Wins—A Dynasty

Statistics alone cannot fully capture what Berkman built on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

When Berkman accepted the Salisbury job in 1989, the Sea Gulls were already a respected program. Over the next four decades, they became the gold standard of Division III lacrosse.

His career includes:

• 678 career victories (NCAA record)
• 669 wins at Salisbury
• 13 NCAA Division III National Championships
• 28 Final Four appearances
• 20 appearances in the national championship game
• 28 conference championships
• Seven undefeated national championship seasons
• More than a 90% career winning percentage

Perhaps the most remarkable statistic is that no other college lacrosse coach has ever reached 500 career victories. Berkman finished nearly 180 wins beyond that historic milestone.

Building the Premier Program in Division III

Year after year, Salisbury wasn’t simply good.

The Sea Gulls were the team every program measured itself against.

Under Berkman, Salisbury qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season he served as head coach. His teams developed a reputation for relentless defense, disciplined transition play, elite faceoff units and fundamentally sound offense.

Opposing coaches often described playing Salisbury as trying to survive a machine.

That consistency became the program’s defining characteristic.

From the early 1990s through the 2020s, the Sea Gulls remained a perennial championship contender regardless of graduating classes or coaching changes around the country.

A Pipeline of Talent

Berkman’s influence stretched far beyond championships.

During his tenure he coached:

• 310 All-Americans
• 13 National Players of the Year
• 59 National Positional Players of the Year
• 15 professional draft picks, the most of any Division III program.

Just as importantly, he helped launch coaching careers across every level of the sport.

More than 200 former players and assistant coaches have gone on to coach youth, high school, college, and professional lacrosse, creating one of the largest coaching trees in the game.

Hall of Fame Recognition

Long before retirement, Berkman’s place among the game’s legends had already been secured.

His honors include:

• National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2013)
• Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2023)
• Four-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
• Multiple conference Coach of the Year awards.

Few coaches have ever been inducted into multiple halls of fame while still actively coaching.

Berkman’s Farewell

In Salisbury’s official announcement, Berkman reflected on his remarkable journey.

“It has been a great run… I’m proud of all that we were able to accomplish in my time at SU, but none of it would have been possible without the hundreds of players that dedicated their valuable time to the program.”

Rather than focusing on championships, Berkman emphasized the success of his players after graduation and the number who now give back to the sport as coaches.

That perspective helps explain why so many former players continue to call him one of the greatest mentors they’ve ever had.

Justin Axel Takes Over

Salisbury isn’t turning to an outsider.

Justin Axel has been part of the Sea Gull family for years, serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2014 after an earlier stint with the program from 2002-07. He has been on the sideline for multiple national championship runs and understands the culture Berkman built.

Replacing the greatest coach in college lacrosse history is impossible.

Continuing the standard he established will be Axel’s challenge.

Maryland Loses One of Its Greatest Coaches

Maryland has produced some of the most legendary coaches in college sports.

Jim Berkman belongs on that list.

His career stands alongside the accomplishments of icons from Maryland’s collegiate athletic history because of the sustained excellence he delivered for nearly four decades.

Whether measured by championships, victories, player development, or influence on the game, Berkman’s résumé has no equal in college lacrosse.

MSB Final Take

The greatest coaches leave behind more than trophies.

They leave standards.

Jim Berkman transformed Salisbury into the benchmark for Division III lacrosse, influenced generations of players and coaches, and built a program whose name became synonymous with excellence. While the Sea Gulls will continue chasing championships under new leadership, there will never be another first Jim Berkman.

His retirement is the end of one of the greatest coaching careers in the history of Maryland sports—and one of the greatest in all of college athletics.