Patrick Johnston enters his ninth season as the Head Coach of the Keiser University Men’s Lacrosse team. Johnston has led the Seahawks to seven NAIA appearances, five Final Four’s, one runner-up finish, and two national championships.
Johnston's Journal
- Guided the Seahawks to a 78-27 overall record with a 21-4 record in conference games
- Coached Keiser to seven NAIA National Tournaments, including five Final Four’s, one runner-up finish, and two championships.
- The Seahawks are 36-21 all-time against teams ranked inside the NAIA Top 10 poll
- Aided in KU receiving 19 NAIA All-American awards
- Yielded 47 All-Conference players, three AII Player and Offensive Player of the Years, one AAC Freshman of the Year, and one Defensive Player of the Year.
2024
- NAIA Coach of the Year.
- @NAIALAX Coach of the Year.
- Led the Seahawks to their second straight NAIA National title.
- Improved Keiser's postseason record to 9-5.
- Coached four NAIA All-Americans, (First teamers AJ Badik and Reese Niemeier, second team choices Chris Rayburn and Ryan Rundle) and five All-AAC performers.
- The Seahawks set program highs in goals, (309) shots on goal, (571) faceoff wins, (320) points, (504) groundballs, (633) caused turnovers, (201) assists, (195) and man-up goals, (41).
- KU closed its 2024 season with a dramatic 12-11 victory over No. 1 Reinhardt in the NAIA National Championship game.
- Keiser went undefeated in non-conference play, 4-0 in road games, and took down nine nationally ranked opponents.
- Improved his all-time record at Keiser to 78-27.
2023
- Led the Seahawks to their first NAIA National title as well as their first AAC tournament title.
- Improved Keiser's postseason record to 6-5.
- Named NAIA Coach of the Year.
- Coached four NAIA First-Team All-Americans, (Provines, Tomei, Badik, and Marshall) and six All-AAC performers.
- Led Keiser to its first No. 1 ranking (3/8/23).
- In 2023, the Seahawks set program highs in goals, groundballs, faceoff wins, points, caused turnovers, assists, saves, and wins.
- KU closed its 2023 season by defeating six consecutive top-10 opponents.
- Mentored AAC Defensive Player of the Year Christian Tomei.
- Keiser went 9-0 in neutral site games, 5-0 at home, and took down two NCAA Division II squads.
- The Seahawks won five games versus top-5 opponents.
- Improved his all-time record at Keiser to 61-25.
2022
- Guided the Seahawks to an 8-6 overall record and an NAIA tournament appearance
- Led Keiser to a 6-2 record in their first conference season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference
- Coached one NAIA All-American in Cole Stassi
- Had six players named to the AAC All-Conference team
- Vincent Cerasuolo was named AAC Freshman of the Year
- Seven players earned academic All-Conference honors
2021
- Led the Seahawks to a 7-3 overall record and an appearance in the NAIA Final Four
- Coached two NAIA All-Americans
- Keiser claimed the AII Regular Season Championship
- Ranked inside the NAIA Top 10 poll for the entire season
- KU went 3-0 in home contests and 2-2 against Top 25 teams
2020
- The Seahawks were 4-2 overall when the season was canceled on 3/16/20 due to CoVID 19 Virus
- Keiser led the country in assists (49), goals (88), and points (137)
- Freshman, Cole Stassi led the NAIA in assists with 16
- Led the team to a pair of NAIA Top 25 victories
- Aided in two Seahawks earning NAIA Scholar Athlete honors
2019
- Guided the Seahawks to an 8-7 overall record and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament, falling to No. 2 Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals
- Keiser claimed the AII Regular Season Championship and Tournament title
- The Seahawks were ranked inside the NAIA Top 10 poll for the entirety of the year
- KU went 3-1 at home including a win against the sixth-ranked team in the country
- Yielded 11 All-Conference awards and three NAIA All-American honors
- Of the field, two players were named NAIA Scholar Athletes
- Coached Hunter East to the AII Player of the Year award
2018
- Posted a 7-4 overall record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, falling to Reinhardt University for a second straight year
- The Seahawks garnered nine All-Conference awards and three NAIA All-American honors
- Keiser was ranked inside the NAIA Top 10 poll for the entire season, climbing as high as second
- For the second straight season, KU was top ten in assists per game (7.64) and goals per game (12.18)
- Marentette ranked third in the NAIA for points per game with 5.30 and fifth in assists per game with 2.30
2017
- Named the AII Coach of the Year after leading the inaugural team to a 10-2 overall record and an AII Conference title
- Guided the Seahawks to the NAIA National Championship game, where they fell to Reinhardt University, 10-5
- Ranked as high as No. 2 in the NAIA coaches poll
- The Seahawks knocked off Point University, 29-10, for the programs first-ever win
- Coached ten All-Conference players, two All-Americans, and the AII Player and Offensive Player of the Year
- Keiser ranked fourth in the nation in assists per game with nine and goals per game with 16.36
- Craig Marentette topped the country in points per game with 6.27 and was third in goals per game with 4.45
Pre-Keiser
Prior to his time at Keiser, Johnston spent two seasons as the Head Coach of NCAA Division II Emmanuel, three seasons as an Assistant Coach at Palm Beach Atlantic, and one season as an Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator of his alma mater, the University of Alabama. In his time, he has coached 28 All-Conference players, four All-Americans, and 19 Academic All-Conference members.
Playing Career
Johnston began his playing career at Culver Military Academy before going on to play four seasons for the University of Alabama. In his junior and senior years, he was named an All-Conference Defender and Academic All-American.
After graduating, Johnston played for the Magic City Men’s Post-Collegiate lacrosse club and Treasure Coast Post-Collegiate lacrosse team in Palm Beach County.
Personal
Johnston earned his Bachelors in Education from the University of Alabama and his MA in English from the School of Letters program at Sewanee: The University of the South. Johnston is married to Courtney and has one daughter Lydia.
Johnston Year-By-Year
Keiser– Head Coach
| Year |
Record |
Pct. |
Conference Record |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2024 |
17-2 |
.895 |
8-1 |
1st |
National Champions |
| 2023 |
17-1 |
.944 |
7-1 |
1st |
National Champions |
| 2022 |
8-6 |
.571 |
6-2 |
4th |
Quarterfinals |
| 2021 |
7-3 |
.700 |
n/a |
n/a |
Semifinals |
| 2020* |
4-2 |
.667 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
| 2019 |
8-7 |
.533 |
n/a |
1st |
Quarterfinals |
| 2018 |
7-4 |
.636 |
n/a |
n/a |
Quarterfinals |
| 2017 |
10-2 |
.833 |
n/a |
n/a |
National Runner-Up |
Emmanuel– Head Coach
| Year |
Record |
Pct. |
Conference Record |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2016 |
1-14 |
.067 |
0-6 |
7th |
n/a |
| 2015 |
3-10 |
.231 |
2-4 |
5th |
n/a |
| 2014 |
8-7 |
.533 |
4-5 |
5th |
n/a |
*Season Cancelled on 3/16/20 due to CoVID 19 Virus
