Ted Spencer has decided to retire after serving 13 seasons as Fairfield University’s head men’s lacrosse coach, and has accepted an administrative position as Associate Director of Athletics at the school. The change will allow Spencer to remain at the University while he continues to regain his health from his battle with cancer.

“I am pleased that Ted will remain part of the Fairfield athletics family by accepting the associate director of athletics position,” Director of Athletics Gene Doris said. “I am grateful for his hard work and dedication that built our men’s lacrosse program into a competitive and respected program both regionally and nationally. Ted’s decision to retire from coaching was a difficult one, but I am sure he will bring the same vigor to his new position that has made him successful in everything he has done. This position has been in our athletics strategic plan and it became obvious that Ted is the right person to fill it. He will continue to have our support in his fight against cancer and will take some well earned time for himself before transitioning into his new role.”

“This was a difficult choice for me, but in the end, I had to do what was best for me and my family,” Spencer said. “I feel a strong commitment to the student athletes who I recruited this past spring and who will return for the 2009 season. In speaking with the team, I know that I have their support in making this change and I am thankful to have been associated with such a group of fine young men.”

Spencer completed his 13th season at the helm of the Fairfield University lacrosse program in 2008 and owned a 93-90 overall record at the school. He coached the team during the spring despite undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer. The team finished the campaign with a 4-9 overall record and a 1-5 mark in its third season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League.

With Spencer at the helm, the Stags competed in two NCAA tournaments (2005 and 2002), as well as to two Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) titles. He was named the GWLL Coach of the Year in both of those seasons.

Before joining the GWLL, Spencer led the program to three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships (1996-98). The program qualified for four straight ECAC tournament appearances from 1996-99, and captured the tourney title in 1998 and 1999. He was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 1996.

Players have flourished under his guidance and three have earned All-American Honorable Mention honors. Seven continued their playing careers in Major League Lacrosse, including Greg Downing, Mike Bocklet, and Nate Bauers in 2007.

Spencer’s new duties as associate director of athletics will include general athletic administrative oversight responsibilities and support of the athletic department’s external relations including the support of student-athlete recruitment programs, representing the Director of Athletics at external functions, and working with the University’s Advancement Division on development activities in support of Fairfield Athletics.

Doris said that the University will immediately begin a national search for the head men’s lacrosse position.

It’s been a busy weekend for the CIAC, with state champions to crown in a ton of sports.

And after a cool spring weather-wise, mother nature went crazy yesterday, blistering athletes with temperatures in the 90s. Which meant in-season conditioning became a major factor for all the athletes involved.

Here’s a quick roundup of winners, losers (though to be politically correct, they are runners-up), and more, including clips from the local sports media…

FRIDAY:
Westhill wins Class LL Baseball Title
I slammed Westhill pitched T.J. Hickey’s mound antics in a post a few weeks ago. He’s recovered nicely and, on the mound, became the go-to guy a lot of us saw during the football season. As he kept Masuk batters in check, Bobby Migliazza and Greg Smith led the offense in a 12-1 win up at Palmer Field in Middletown.

The clips: Stamford Advocate game story; Stamford Advocate sidebar; Connecticut Post.

Also Friday: Darien takes volleyball title; Staples wins again in Class L.

SATURDAY
The links:

• Masuk phenom Rachele Fico shuts down Naugatuck: Connecticut Post; New Haven Register.
• Law upsets Ludlowe for Class L baseball title: New Haven Register; Connecticut Post.
• Danbury takes Division II girls lacrosse championship: News-Times; News-Times sidebar.
• Prefect ending for New Fairfield lacrosse team: News-Times.
• Prep tops Ridgefield in 3OT to take Class L lacrosse title: Connecticut Post.
• Darien girls defeat Wilton again for girls lacrosse championship: Stamford Advocate.
• Blue Wave Boys make it a lacrosse sweep: Stamford Advocate.

Is there a bigger surprise in Fairfield County boys lacrosse this season that Ridgefield?

After squeaking into the FCIAC and CIAC playoffs last year, the Tigers are undefeated at 9-0. And that includes a first-ever victory over arch-rival Wilton, and an upset win last Monday over national powerhouse Greenwich.

So what’s the difference between this year and last, when Ridgefield went 8-11 on the season?

“Last year we talked to them about expecting to be that good, and they’re really buying into it,” said Ridgefield head coach Andy Stockfisch after the Tigers 12-4 win over St. Joseph on Saturday. “This year they really understand that they need to focus on one game at a time, and treat each game like a business trip.”

And another thing that is helping the Tigers: Stockfisch won’t let the team rest on its laurels.

“There are a number of things that we need to talk about just from this game,” Stockfisch said. “Never let them be satisfied with their performance, no matter how big the win is, how great of a play they make, or the opportunities they have. They need to always want to do better.”

The Tigers take on SWC front-runner New Fairfield tomorrow, a team that features Duke-bound long-stick midfielder C.J. Costabile, the sixth-ranked player in the nation according to TAKKLE.com.

But Ridgefield counters with one of the best attacks in the country as well, Matt White. Ranked 19th in the nation, according to TAKKLE, White, a junior, has already given a verbal commitment to University of Virginia.

And thanks to White, and the team’s undefeated record, Stockfisch thinks his phone will ring often this summer, with college coaches on the other end wanting to find out about the Tigers.

“Any time when you get a team of this caliber that is beating some of the best teams in the state, you’re going to have some players like Matt White who have been seen and going to get seen,” Stockfisch said. “This summer I feel I’ll field 50 calls from college coaches about all sorts of kids on this roster.”

LocalSportsFeed founder Tim Parry sat down with White for an interview after his five-goal, four-assist performance against the Cadets. Here’s what White had to say about the 2008 Tigers, his opportunity to play at Virginia, and about the rumor that he won’t be back for a third season as Ridgefield’s starting quarterback this fall:

It appears to be business as usual on New Canaan’s lacrosse fields. Alex Whitten has taken over the program, and alumni attempts reinstate longtime head coach Howard Benedict seem to have silently died. Read the full story