Former Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse Player Mike Schambach Passes Away at 38

As Father’s Day takes place this weekend, there is some sad news to report among the Rutgers men’s lacrosse family. Former four-year player and two-year starter, Mike Schambach, passed away on June 14th after a year long battle with colon cancer. He was just 38 years old.

Shambach was a senior on the 2003 team that was ranked within the top ten nationally, as well as had wins over top five teams UMASS and Syracuse. This was the second to last Rutgers team to make the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Georgetown in the first round.

He went on to have a successful career as a head coach after a long tenure as an assistant coach at FDU. He took over Montclair State and led them to a 46-27 record over the past four seasons, including three NCAA Division III tournament appearances and three undefeated conference campaigns. On Thursday, the day he died, Schambach and his assistants were honored with the Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year award from the IMCLA.

Schambach and his wife, Lindsay, just welcomed their second child last month, Chloe Michelle, on May 7th. Their other child is Cameron. You can read his wife’s touching tribute to him on her facebook page here.

A Fundraising page was setup in his memory and to support the loving family Mike left behind. Having just had a child a week after the Schambach’s did, this news certainly hit close to home for me. I already made a donation and I hope as many of our readers, fellow Rutgers alums, and fans can give what they can as well. The go fund me page has already raised almost $100,000, which is 25% of the goal. You can donate here.

Rutgers great and current Lafayette assistant coach Scott Bieda tweeted this message below.

Rest in peace, Mike Schambach.