James Amandola

Coach James Amandola comes to Metro with a highly decorated playing career as well as years of coaching and teaching.  James began his lacrosse career at Patchogue Medford High School.  He was recruited to play in college and continued his career at Manhattan College.  He was a four-year starter in goal for Manhattan.  As a senior captain, James led the team in an undefeated MAAC season, their first MAAC Lacrosse Championship as well as first ever automatic qualification to an NCAA tournament.  James was selected to the MAAC tournament 1st team and awarded tournament MVP.  He was named MAAC Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as numerous MAAC Conference Defender of the Week awards throughout his career.

James compiled some impressive statistics throughout his career at Manhattan College. He is the all time leader in minutes played, saves, and saves per game in Manhattan College History.  He is the only three time Outstanding Performer in Manhattan Lacrosse history.  3,533 minutes played in a career is 6th best in NCAA Division I history.  1,043 saves for a career is 2nd best in NCAA Division I history.  His career average of 17.38 saves per game is 4th best in NCAA Division I history. His 2002 save percentage of 685% is the 9th best for a single season in NCAA Division I history. Additionally, he holds the Delaware Stadium record for most saves in an NCAA tournament game.

After college James continued his education, earning a Master’s Degree at Fordham University.  James has been a social studies teacher for 21 years and currently teaches at Tappan Zee high school.  He was an assistant varsity lacrosse coach for 10 years and an assistant varsity football coach for 6 years.  He was also varsity lacrosse coach for 6 years at Tappan Zee and an assistant lacrosse coach at Manhattan College for 2 years.  James has committed himself to a positive coaching philosophy as a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance and attends yearly lacrosse conventions to further his knowledge of the sport.  James was awarded by the Nyack Penguin Plunge committee for contributing as a lacrosse program to assist children with life threatening diseases. James has been awarded the Rockland County Assistant Coach of the Year in both Football and Lacrosse, Two time Rockland County Head Coach of the Year by Lohud and Section 1 Class B Coach of the Year.  He is the co-founder of the Tappan Zee Youth Lacrosse league in the community for both girls and boys.  James is happily married and has two children, Scarlett 13 and John 12.  

James joins the Metro Coaching Staff as the head goalie coach.