May 20, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - Josh Loeffler, who spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology, has joined the Lafayette men's basketball coaching staff. Loeffler led the Division III institution in Hoboken, N.J. to a 46-13 mark during his tenure.

In his first season as a collegiate head coach in 2006-07, Loeffler guided Stevens to a 23-7 record and a share of the Skyline Conference title. His squad earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where it knocked off Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Ramapo College to reach the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual national champion Amherst College. Stevens finished the year ranked 24th in the country in the D3hoops.com poll while Loeffler was named the Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by the same organization.

In 2007-08, Loeffler's squad posted a school record for wins in a season with a 23-6 record. Stevens made the switch to the Empire 8 Conference and shared the regular-season title with Ithaca College. After losing to eventual champion Nazareth College in the semifinals of the conference tournament and missing out an a second straight NCAA bid, the Ducks received the top overall seed for the ECAC Metro Championship. Loeffler went on to lead Stevens to three straight victories and the ECAC Metro title.

"We are excited to have someone of Josh's caliber become a member of our coaching staff," said Lafayette head coach Fran O'Hanlon. "He brings varied experiences and is a great addition to our basketball family."

Loeffler got his coaching start as an assistant at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. in 2003-04. He also served as the defensive line coach with the football team for one season. While at Hamilton, Loeffler helped lead the basketball team to a 19-8 mark and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

After his stop at Hamilton, Loeffler moved on to St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. where he was an assistant coach from 2004-05. He spent the 2005-06 season at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. under two-time NABC Division III Coach of the Year Dave Paulsen.

Loeffler is a 2003 graduate of Swarthmore College in Media, Pa. where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He earned four varsity letters as a forward on the basketball and one in football as a tight end in his sophomore year.

A native of West Grove, Pa., Loeffler replaces Drew Dawson. The Leopards are coming off a 15-15 campaign that saw them finish in fifth place in the Patriot League standings.