Siena men’s lacrosse head coach Liam Gleason has died, just days after his 41st birthday, the university has confirmed.
Gleason died on Wednesday, December 3, following a traumatic brain injury sustained from a fall at his home on Sunday, November 29.
“A sudden, senseless loss carries a kind of pain that defies understanding,” Siena president Chuck Seifert said in a statement posted to the school’s athletics website. “It’s hard to imagine anyone more universally loved and admired than Liam. Our community was blessed by Coach Gleason’s life.”
Gleason leaves behind wife Jaclyn, as well as daughter Kennedy, and sons Penn and Tate. The university will hold a funeral service on campus on Saturday, December 6.
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“The Siena community is devastated by this unspeakable tragedy,” athletic director John D’Argenio added. “As one Siena family, we give our support, prayers, and love to Jaclyn, Kennedy, Penn, Tate, and the entire Gleason family, as well as our men’s lacrosse student athletes and alumni, and those whom Liam touched while both a coach and player at UAlbany. Liam was an amazing human being, a great teammate in the department, and made Siena a better place.”
Gleason completed his seventh season at Siena in 2025, leading the Saints to a MAAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
A GoFundMe was launched before his death that has already raised more than $600,000 to support his family and medical expenses.
“Anyone who knows him knows what a light he is in this world,” the page reads. “Liam is the best father, husband, brother, son, brother-in-law, uncle, coach, and friend. His heart is as big as his 6’5” frame, and the love he gives to those around him is immeasurable.”
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Many of his players from Siena and the University at Albany, where he previously coached, as well as family and friends, lined the hallway of Albany Medical Center on Wednesday for Gleason’s Hero Walk — a show of appreciation for someone with no chance of survival as they are being wheeled into the operating room to donate their organs.
“Liam was passionate about being an organ donor and will be giving life to others through the donation of his organs,” read an update posted to the GoFundMe.
While the GoFundMe has seen plenty of support from the Siena community, rival lacrosse programs have also stepped up. Donors representing Bryant, Sacred Heart and Canisius — all conference or regional rivals of the Saints — have chipped in.
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Duke men’s lacrosse coach John Danowski also donated $500 despite telling the Times Union he wasn’t sure if he had ever met Gleason.
“The lacrosse brotherhood is a tight community.,” he said in a story published Wednesday. “I’d like to think that we watch out for one another and we’re there for each other. I certainly feel for his wife and his family, and it was just the right thing to do.”
Albany lacrosse broadcaster Mike Tesoriero told the Times Union that Gleason was “the nicest man you’ll ever meet.”
“Liam is the epitome of just the best of us, and that’s part of the reason you’re seeing such a big outpouring of support and the GoFundMe being the way it is, and how it’s blowing up so fast,” he said. “It’s bigger than lacrosse. It’s a community thing. It’s a family thing. It’s a neighborhood [thing]. There isn’t anybody that knows Liam and his family that will ever say a bad word about Liam. He’s that type of person, you know what I mean?”
