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Matt Rienzo is in his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Georgetown men's lacrosse program. Rienzo will continue in his primary role of working with the team's defense and running the substitution box. During Rienzo's tenure, the Georgetown men's lacrosse team has reached the NCAA Quarterfinals six years in a row. The Hoyas have consistently been one of the most imposing defensive teams in the country. Over the last five years, the Hoya defense has ranked among the top defensive units in the country. In 2003, Rienzo coached the unit to a Georgetown record for goals allowed per game at 7.33, which ranked seventh nationally. In 2004, the Hoyas gave up only 8.00 goals per game, and in 2005, the unit allowed only 8.27 goals per game. The Hoyas ranked among the top-10 in the country in 2006 - ranking ninth by allowing only 7.54 goals per game - as the team won 12 games and the 2006 ECAC Championship. Last season, GU limited 12 opponents to 10 goals or fewer and ranked 19th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 8.20 goals per game. He was the mentor to former long stick midfielder Brodie Merrill, a two-time First Team All-American and Tewaaraton Trophy finalist. Merrill was named the Outstanding Defensive Player after leading the Canadian National Team to the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship. In addition, Merrill played for the Portland (Ore.) LumberJax of the National Lacrosse League and was named its Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, the first rookie to ever win the award. Merrill was also the MLL outdoor league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007. In 2002, he coached Kyle Sweeney, the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and a USILA First Team All-American. Sweeney started every game for Team USA at the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships. Under Rienzo's tutelage, defensemen have received All-American honors 10 times in six years, including Reyn Garnett, who was a second team selection in 2006, and Jerry Lambe, who was named to the second team in 2007. Last year, Lambe was named the ECAC's Defensive Player of the Year, the third Hoya to earn that honor under Rienzo. Rienzo served on the staff at the University of Notre Dame in 2001. He worked with the Fighting Irish defense, which ranked third in the nation, giving up less than seven goals per game. The Irish advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in school history. Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Rienzo was the Assistant Dean of Students and Head Lacrosse Coach at Gonzaga College High School. He guided his alma mater to a 14-7 record in 2000 as Gonzaga advanced to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Finals. In the fall of 2004, Rienzo was inducted into Gonzaga College High School's Athletic Hall of Fame. Rienzo graduated from Georgetown in 1997 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. He played four seasons and was a three-year starter under Coach Dave Urick. A two-time team Most Valuable Player, Rienzo helped lead the Hoyas to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997, when he was named an Honorable Mention All-American. He played in the 1997 North-South All-Star Game after graduation. Rienzo, the son of former Georgetown Athletic Director Frank Rienzo, is married to the former Julie Shaw and resides in Bethesda, Md. They are the proud parents of a baby boy, Matthew Xavier (3) and Grace (1). |
 
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