The Athletics Department has announced that Ryan Beck, currently an assistant coach for the men’s varsity lacrosse team at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, will succeed Ravenscroft’s longtime head boys lacrosse coach Sandy Kapatos, who is retiring.

Beck, who has a B.A. in history with a concentration in American history from SUNY Cortland, will teach U.S. History in the Middle School as well. He brings 15 years of teaching and coaching experience to his new role here. Prior to his work at Shenandoah University, he was most recently the head cross country coach, a P.E. and U.S. history teacher, and Director of Lacross Operations at Powhatan School in Boyce, Virginia. In that role, he led both the boys and girls cross country teams to their first-ever undefeated seasons and managed the lacrosse programs for both boys and girls. 

He has also served as an assistant coach for the men’s varsity lacrosse team at Cortland State University in Cortland, New York, and was the defensive coordinator for the Maryland Lacrosse Club in Frederick, Maryland. He said he was attracted to Ravenscroft because of the “strong reputation it has built for itself in academics and athletics.”  

“I am looking forward to encouraging and motivating players within the program to compete with integrity and excellence in the classroom and on the lacrosse field,” he said. “Coach Kapatos created and maintained a phenomenal lacrosse program, and I will work tirelessly and diligently to pick up where he left off. I am appreciative of the opportunity Coach Gonet and the Ravenscroft administration have provided to me.”

Kapatos helmed the team at Ravenscroft for 15 years. Under his leadership, the school has won seven TISAC championships and made three appearances in the NCISAA state championship finals — bringing home the crown in 2016.

Athletic Director Ned Gonet said, “First of all, I want to sincerely thank Coach Sandy Kapatos for his 15 years of dedicated service to Ravenscroft and our lacrosse program. He did an outstanding job of building and sustaining a solid program. We are very excited that Ryan Beck will be taking over as our head lacrosse coach. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the sport of lacrosse, having coached at the high school and college level in previous years, and has established himself as a very respected coach. We are looking forward to continuing the tradition of Ravenscroft lacrosse into the future.”