Joel Zalesky returns for his fifth season with Denison men's lacrosse in 2021.
Over the last four seasons, Zalesky has helped Denison challenge for a Division III National Championship. The Big Red has posted a record of 56-9 with two North Coast Athletic Conference Championships and three NCAC Tournament titles. Over that span, the Big Red has advanced to the NCAA Semifinals, quarterfinals and round of 16.
In 2018, a 5-0 start propelled DU to it's highest national ranking in program history (#2) and despite a mid-season loss to a conference rival, Denison responded by winning it's fourth NCAC Tournament title, clinching the program's 23rd NCAA Tournament berth. In 2019, the Big Red went 18-3 and swept the NCAC regular season and tournament championships before bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the quarterfinals at Salisbury.
In 2017, the Big Red went 18-2 and advanced to the NCAA Final Four, landing five players on the USILA All-American teams. Liam Rooney led the nation in assists (88) and broke varsity records for assists in a season, points in a season (126), career assists (162) and career points (282). The defense allowed only 7.07 goals per game which ranked among the nation's best all season. Zalesky was a member of the coaching staff that was awarded the West Region Division III Coaching Staff of the Year award from the IMLCA.
He came to Denison after working as the offensive coordinator at Olentangy Liberty High School from 2014-2016. While holding that position, Zalesky helped to lead Olentangy to a 33-9 record in two seasons. In addition to being the offensive coordinator, Zalesky was a coach and private instructor at Resolute Lacrosse since 2011. In the 2015-2016 season, Zalesky coached a 2020 group to a .650 win percentage, while playing at the highest level of east coast tournaments.
Zalesky played Major League Lacrosse starting in 2010 with the Toronto Nationals. He was drafted in 2012 by the Ohio Machine and played in the Machine’s first game in franchise history. Soon after, he re-signed with the Hamilton Nationals in 2013. Zalesky also played in the National Lacrosse League for the Rochester Knighthawks and in the North American Lacrosse League for the Kentucky Stickhorses.
Zalesky is a 2010 graduate of Seton Hill University where he was a four-year starting midfielder. In his senior year, he led the country in scoring for Division II, helping Seton Hill to a No. 11 national ranking in 2010. That year he was named to the All-American first team as a midfielder.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in entrepreneurial studies.
