Matt Stagnitta, Former D1 Lacrosse Player, Coach
Some people are shaped by sport. Others are raised in it. Matt Stagnitta was both.
With a dad who spent over 30 years coaching college lacrosse—and now coaches for the PLL Whipsnakes—and a mom who still runs camps, lessons, and tournaments, Matt had a stick in his hand before he could even spell the word “lacrosse.”
But it wasn’t just about the game.
His parents taught him early that sports were about life. That showing up for your team builds character. That failure builds resilience. And that playing multiple sports would make him not only a better athlete—but a more well-rounded human.
“Lacrosse was always closest to my heart, but I played football and basketball too. Each one taught me something different—and ultimately made me better at everything I did.”
Competing at the D1 Level
Matt went on to play D1 lacrosse at Johns Hopkins, then took a fifth year at Jacksonville University. After graduation, he helped build Mad Dog Lacrosse across California, introducing countless young players to the game.
“The game gave me everything—lifelong friends, lessons, opportunities. I owe so much of who I am to lacrosse.”
Those lifelong friends? They’re now the people he’s stood by through engagements, weddings, and babies.
The coaches he learned from? They helped shape the values he carries into his work today.
And the hours spent grinding through practices, in the cold, in the heat, and through setbacks? They built something deeper than skill—they built perspective.
When Life Hits Hard—Rely on Your Teammates
In 2024, Matt’s life took a sudden, scary turn.
What started as harmless dizzy spells turned into a brain tumor diagnosis. What he thought were short moments of lightheadedness were actually mini seizures caused by a marble-sized mass in his brain. He underwent surgery on November 6, 2024.
“Everything flipped upside down. But I thought back to those moments at Hopkins and Jacksonville—grueling workouts, freezing fields, 110-degree turf. If I could get through that, I could get through this.”
In that moment, Matt leaned into a lesson every athlete knows: trust your team.
His teammates just looked different this time—surgeons, doctors, nurses. But the mission was the same: work together to achieve a shared goal.
Still in the Game—Just in a New Role
Matt made a full recovery and now works in medical device sales at Stryker, where the job demands calm under pressure, attention to detail, and trust—just like game day.
And even with everything on his plate, he still finds time to coach—running clinics, working tournaments, and staying involved at the high school level. Not because he has to, but because it’s his way of giving back to the sport that gave him everything.
“I saw what coaching meant through my parents. I want to carry that forward. I want to give these kids the same foundation sports gave me. And honestly, I learn just as much from them as they do from me.”
Why Stories Like Matt’s Matter
Matt’s story isn’t about how far lacrosse took him. It’s about what it prepared him for.
- When life tested his resilience, he had it.
- When the pressure mounted, he stayed calm.
- When things got scary, he leaned on his team.
This is what youth sports do—they shape people far beyond the field.
That’s what the Grow the Game Newsletter is all about. Real stories from coaches, parents, and players who know that sports don’t just build athletes. They build character, connection, and courage.
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