Sticking to Success, From Truitt to Tillman

Throughout a century of men’s lacrosse at the University of Maryland, the Terps have proven that “Be the Best” is more than just a motto: They’re the only major college lacrosse program to never finish a season with a losing record.

Now, as it opens the 2025 campaign against Richmond on Saturday at SECU Stadium, the team that’s amassed 13 national championships, 29 Final Fours, 45 conference titles and three Tewaaraton Awards is adding a new stat to the record books: 100 seasons.

“You go anywhere in the world, and people know what Maryland lacrosse is. It means a lot to a lot of people,” head coach John Tillman said of the program, which has fielded a winning or .500 team each year since becoming a varsity sport in 1924—with the exceptions of 1944 and 1945, when it didn’t play during World War II. “Because of that, there’s a standard that I think all of us feel like we need to uphold and make sure we do our part.”

The formula for success was originally developed by R.V. Truitt, Maryland lacrosse’s first head coach. Truitt, who played both lacrosse (before it earned varsity status) and track from 1911-14 and later helped found the M Club for current and former student-athletes, notched a 22-8-1 record over four seasons.

Each coach who followed honored the precedent set before them, from Jack Faber in 1928 to Tillman, the program’s ninth head coach, in 2011. For Bud Beardmore, at the helm from 1970-80, the pride and family atmosphere of Maryland lacrosse were encapsulated by his motto, “Be the Best,” encouraging top performance on the field, in the classroom and around campus.

“If you play your best and the guy next to you plays his best, you will have the best team. He wanted to instill that pride and desire,” said Ira Hochstadt ’71, a defender who lettered for the Terps from 1969-71 and played two seasons under Beardmore. The former team captain and All-American, now the father of two fellow Terps lacrosse alums (Scott Hochstadt ’99 and Craig Hochstadt ’02), has seen those values upheld as the program has evolved. “What amazes me is we've had eight coaches since the 1960s. It seems like every coach has taken that same lead.”

Other alums who played throughout the decades shared similar sentiments, noting how the passed-down tradition and work ethic helped make Maryland one of the nation’s most storied and accomplished programs.

“We're not the prettiest or the most prestigious school if you think about it, but we're one of the most successful,” said Brian Phipps ’10, a Terps goalie from 2007-10. “I think that's because guys come here to work hard, do their job and be part of the culture that's been established. I think that's what Coach Tillman has instilled and carried on from Coach (Dave) Cottle, Coach (Dick) Edell and Coach Beardmore, etc.”

When Tillman took the helm in 2010, he helped get his student-athletes on board early, keeping and bringing in coaches from the previous regime—like assistant Ryan Moran and director of operations Phipps—to show appreciation for others who came before him.

“He came in, and it was a little bit of a culture shock for some of the guys who’ve been there for a while,” said Michael Ehrhardt ’14, a defender for the Terps from 2011-14. “But at the end of the day, he didn't really change much. Maryland has so much history behind it. He wanted to honor and teach that.”

That history spans generations—for some Terps, in their own family. Besides the Hochstadts, the Dubicks—Harry ’51, Marc ’83, Louis ’19 and Eliot ’26—note the program’s longstanding tradition and emphasis on excellence on the field and in the classroom. The Phipps clan, too, is teeming with Terps, with Brian’s grandfather (Louis), father (Wilson ’79), brother (Michael ’08) and wife (Caitlyn ’10) all playing Maryland lacrosse.

But the team’s family atmosphere goes beyond blood, they say.

“Whether they’re actually my blood brother that I played with or my best friends, I consider them legit family and brothers,” Phipps said. “That's the culture that we've established and carried on. Why wouldn't you want to be a part of that legacy with your father, son, brother, best friend or someone you haven't met yet who becomes your best friend?”

Today’s generation of players hope to live up to that legacy and maintain Maryland lacrosse’s sustained success.

“The Ira Hochstadts, the Marc Dubicks, those guys set the standard alongside their coaches and peers,” said Brett Makar ’22, M.S. ’23, a Terps defender from 2019-23 and the only player to win back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. “They set the standard and the temperature for the program. There's a responsibility for those who wear the uniform to carry that on.”