Severn School Names Keegan Wilkinson Boys Lacrosse Coach

Citing the desire to be closer to his parents and family, as well as to make an impact on high school student-athletes, former Marist University men’s lacrosse head coach Keegan Wilkinson is now Severn School’s boys lacrosse head coach.

Wilkinson coached lacrosse at Marist for 17 years, 13 as their head coach. He was the winningest lacrosse coach in school history and was a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year. The Poughkeepsie, New York, university won MAAC lacrosse championships in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

“It was insanely difficult to leave Marist,” Wilkinson said. “I spent half my life there and we had great success over the years.”

However, it was a chance to come home to Maryland and be closer to his parents in Columbia, to raise his two young children, and to have a positive influence on high school student–athletes and help players reach their potential.

“Some of the best coaches in the history of sports have been high school coaches like Morgan Wootten and Bob Hurley,” Wilkinson said.

Wootten was DeMatha Catholic High School’s head basketball coach for 46 years and Hurley was the basketball coach at the now closed St. Anthony High School in New Jersey for 39 years. Both coaches are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wilkinson has inherited a team that went 7-11 last year, but he credits Severn’s former lacrosse coach, Joe Christie, for discovering student-athletes who fit into Severn’s culture.

“Joe did an amazing job recruiting the area for the type of lacrosse player who will be a great representative of Severn School in the classroom and athletic field,” Wilkinson said. “The strength of this year’s squad will be the 14-member senior class. We have size and speed at every position.”

At Marist, Wilkinson was used to smaller players, who would battle and grind the Red Foxes to victory. At Severn, he was pleasantly surprised by the size of his high school players.

“I have many players who are 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds,” Wilkinson said. “They can run, pass and shoot, so I’m extremely excited how we can jell into a highly competitive team.”

Severn School Assistant Athletic Director Erin De Falco knew Wilkinson through lacrosse networking and Wilkinson became intrigued by the Severn opportunity. After visiting Severn, and particularly Severna Park, Wilkinson knew he had to make a difficult choice.

“Severna Park is a great place to raise a family, as well as a cool community,” Wilkinson said. “Every day, we visit the beach, and I get to walk to work. Also, my wife Jessica is working at Indian Creek School and is their new girls varsity lacrosse coach.”

Wilkinson is also an athletic administrator and teaches a leadership class at Severn School as well as physical education at Severn’s middle school.

Part of his introduction to the Severna Park community is to become acquainted with the Green Hornets lacrosse program.

“I want to immerse myself in all the area’s youth lacrosse programs, especially the Green Hornets,” Wilkinson said. “Hopefully we can help them by having guest speakers, training seminars and summer camps.”

Wilkinson attended Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s University, where he was a four-year starter on attack and two-time captain. That college playing experience, plus 17 years of college coaching, should offer beneficial information to Severn student-athletes choosing colleges.

“I think some other aspects I bring to the table are my connections to college lacrosse programs,” Wilkinson said. “Hopefully I can help navigate my players’ college selection process and make sure their choice is a great fit.”

Wilkinson remarked that his style of lacrosse is playing fast, playing with confidence, and letting his players have “creative freedom.”

“Severn plays in the best high school lacrosse league in the country,” Wilkinson said, referring to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A Conference. “We compete against outstanding lacrosse teams throughout the spring, and we need to elevate our effort to that level and compete for championships.”

Severn School Athletic Director Julian Domenech said, “Keegan’s college experience will be of tremendous value to our lacrosse program and we’re looking forward to a great season.”