Regy Thorpe wrapped up his third season as an assistant coach at the University of Florida at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign and was promoted to Associate Head Coach On July 1, 2024. He will continue to run the Gators' defense as he enters his fourth season apart of the coaching staff.
During the 2024 season, Thorpe helped anchor the Gators defense to the seventh best scoring defense in the country, as they allowed just 8.52 goals per game. Florida held opposing teams to just a .350 shooting percentage, while having 17 games of less than 10 goals allowed and five games of five or less. Two members of the Gators defense were awarded All-AAC honors in Kaitlyn Davies and Theresa Bragg, with Davies receiving IWLCA All- South Region honors as well. Thorpe was apart of the American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year and the IWLCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The Gators finished the season with a 20-3 record, getting to their second Final Four in program history.
During the 2023 season, the Gators went 17-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play. Florida claimed the American Athletic Conference tournament championship, the program’s 10th tournament championship overall and ninth-straight. Florida hoisted the trophy after defeating No. 6 James Madison 9-8 in Philadelphia, Pa. The team made its 12th-consecutive NCAA Tournament, earning hosting rights in the First & Second Round after notching the sixth-overall seed. Under Thorpe’s tutelage, the Gators finished 16th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 9.33 goals per game. In both of Thorpe’s seasons at the helm of the defense, the Gators have not allowed more than 9.50 goals per game. Florida also finished the season ranked in the Top-15 nationally in the following categories: clearing percentage (2nd | .939), save percentage (2nd | .545), shot percentage (3rd | .497), turnovers per game (5th | 11.86), assists per game (8th | 7.67), points per game (10th | 22.52), scoring offense (11th | 14.86) and scoring margin (12th | 5.52) Three Gators earned IWLCA All-American status (Emily Heller – Second Team, Emma LoPinto – Second Team, Sarah Reznick – Second Team), while Reznick (Second Team) was joined by Heller, LoPinto and Becky Browndorf as ILWomen All-Americans. Florida racked up five IWLCA All-Region honors, including three First Team spots in Heller, LoPinto and Reznick. UF’s Second Team honorees consisted of Becky Browndorf and Maggi Hall. The Gators garnered an astounding nine All-Conference selections, including five First Teamers, while also winning two of the major awards: Sarah Reznick (Goalkeeper of the Year) and Emily Heller (Midfielder of the Year). Four Gators were named to the Tewaaraton Watch List – Heller, LoPinto, Pavinelli and Reznick – with LoPinto and Reznick were named as Top-25 Nominees.
During the 2022 campaign, the Gators went 17-5 overall. Florida claimed both the American Athletic Conference regular season championship and the tournament championship, while finishing 5-0 in the league for the team’s seven undefeated conference season. The AAC regular season championship was Florida’s 11th-straight, while the tournament championship was the team’s eighth-straight and ninth overall. The team made its 11th-consecutive NCAA Tournament, earning hosting rights in the first and second round after notching the seventh-overall seed. For the second-straight season, Florida made the NCAA Quarterfinal, its seventh in program history. Under Thorpe’s tutelage, the Gators finished 10th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 9.45 goals per game. Florida also finished the season ranked in the Top-12 nationally in the following categories: turnovers per game (5th, 11.50), assists per game (9th, 7.45), scoring defense (10th, 9.45), free position percentage (11th, .508), shot percentage (11th, .479) and points per game (22.82). Two Gators earned IWLCA All-America status (Danielle Pavinelli – Second Team; Emma LoPinto – Third Team), while Pavinelli (Third Team), alongside LoPinto, Emily Heller and Emma Wightman garnered ILWomen Honorable Mention All-America accolades. Florida racked up six IWLCA All-Region honors, including three First Team spots in Heller, LoPinto and Pavinelli. UF’s Second Team honorees consisted of Catherine Flaherty, Sarah Reznick and Wightman. The Gators also racked up as astounding nine All-Conference selections, including six First Teamers, while also winning five out of six of the major awards: Danielle Pavinelli (Attacker of the Year), Emma Wightman (Defender of the Year), Sarah Reznick (Goalkeeper of the Year), Emma LoPinto (Freshman of the Year) and Thorpe, along with O’Leary and VanThof were named Coaching Staff of the Year. Three Gators were named to the Tewaaraton Watch List – LoPinto, Pavinelli and Reznick – and Pavinelli earned a spot as a Top-25 nominee.
Florida lacrosse head coach Amanda O’Leary announced June 16, 2021 the hiring of Regy Thorpe as assistant coach for the Gators.
Thorpe spent the previous year at the University of Pittsburgh, where he helped the team prep for its inaugural season in 2022.
Thorpe Coaching History
Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Thorpe spent a season as the New York Riptide head coach and general manager in the National Lacrosse League. Before joining the Riptide, he spent a decade with the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team as the associate head coach, where he led the squad to numerous team and individual accolades.
While with the Orange, Thorpe coached and mentored 21 IWLCA All-Americans, six IWLCA Players of the Year and six Tewaaraton Trophy Finalists. He saw Syracuse make nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including six Final Fours and two championship finals. He left the Orange with a 158-62 record (.718).
During his time with Syracuse and the Riptide, Thorpe also served as the head coach of the U.S. Lacrosse Indoor Box Lacrosse World Team (2019. 2024). He also acts as the Chief Lacrosse Officer for 3DLacrosse.
Thorpe spent a year as the head coach of the Long Island Sound of the United Women’s Lacrosse League and led them to an undefeated season and championship in 2017.
Thorpe Playing History
In addition to his extensive coaching path, Thorpe also enjoyed a successful playing career. He got his start at Herkimer County Community College where he was a JUCO Defensive Player of the Year and All-American in 1991. He then finished his collegiate career at Syracuse where he helped the Orange to a runner-up finish in 1992 and an NCAA title in 1993. Thorpe garnered All-America honors during his career with the Orange.
He was a member of the U.S. National Indoor Lacrosse Team and played professionally for the Rochester Rattlers (2001-06) and Rochester Knighthawks. The Rattlers reached the Major League Lacrosse Final Four in 2001, 2004 and 2005, while the Knighthawks (1995-2010) made 13 consecutive playoff appearances and were crowned World Champions in 1997 and 2007.
Thorpe is an inductee of numerous Hall of Fames, including: National Lacrosse League, Jordan Elbridge Hall of Fame, U.S. Lacrosse Rochester Chapter Hall of Fame, NJCAA Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and Rochester Knighthawks National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame.
