Dan Witmer returns to the Lakers’ coaching staff for his fourth season after working with the Oswego High School boys’ lacrosse program for 12 years. His responsibilities include the Lakers’ defense and man-down unit, alumni and parent relations, and community service.
In 2025, the Lakers earned their first-ever #2 seed in the SUNYAC playoffs and the program’s first-ever home post-season game. The Lakers’ man-down unit was ranked #11 in the country with an 84.1% success rate, and the team ranked #33 in successful clearing (87.1% ). For the third consecutive year, the team’s goals-against average improved; in 2025 they finished ranked #40 in all of D-III with a 9.2 goals-against average.
In his first two seasons as the Lakers’a assistant coach, the team earned #3 seed in the 2023 and 2024 SUNYAC tournament with 5-2 conference records. Two Lakers earned All-SUNYAC honors in ‘23 and four were recognized in ‘24. The team was among the nation’s leaders in man-down efficiency.
From 1982 – 2010, Witmer served as Oswego State’s part-time head men’s lacrosse coach. Highlights include three league championships, an ECAC championship, and USILA Coaches Poll Top 20 status in both 1994 and 1996; he also received conference Coach of the Year honors three times. In 2002, he co-coached the North team to victory at the USILA North/South Game, played at iconic Homewood Field at Johns Hopkins, and in 2010, he received the USILA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Since 2010, Witmer has become a certified lacrosse official; started writing his weekly Road Trip Dad blogs, newsletters, and books; coached girls soccer at Hannibal HS, and girls ice hockey and boys lacrosse at Oswego HS; joined the staff at the FIL/World Lacrosse championships in Denver, Syracuse, Netanya (Israel), Limerick (Ireland), San Diego, Utica, and Jeju (Korea); and, as general manager of the Oswego LC River Hawks, helped bring an NABLL box lacrosse team to Oswego. In 2024, he created Witmer Solutions LLC, a lacrosse event staffing service.
Witmer also served for 13 years as the community service coordinator for the Oswego State athletic department. Primary responsibilities included tracking the 24 Laker teams’ various projects and events as well as helping them plan activities supporting organizations like the Special Olympics, the United Way of Oswego County, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Under Witmer’s guidance, the Oswego State athletic department received numerous state and national awards for its commitment to community service. Between 2010 and 2019, Oswego State received multiple NADIIIAA/Josten’s Awards for Community Service, with eight first-place trophies, two runner-up commendations, and three Honorable Mention awards.
Witmer is a two-time graduate of Oswego State, with a BA in secondary education (1982) and an MS in curriculum and instruction (1987). He taught high school English at Hannibal Central School for 33 years before retiring in 2015. He lives in Minetto with his wife, Sue. They have two grown sons – Brian, who lives in Prague with his wife Jane and their son Benji; and Eric, who lives in Denver, CO.
