Andrew Whitley | Bellarmine University

Coach Whitley begins his sixth season at the helm of the Knights during the 2024/25 campaign.

 

2023 was a historic season for the Knights. The team broke 33 different program records, including the record for NCAA Division I Wins in a Season (11). Coach Whitley would lead the Knights to the program’s first consecutive postseason appearances and to their first ever postseason win with a 14-13 triumph over Mercer in the ASUN Quarterfinals. The 2023 team broke the program records for points in a season (361), ground balls in a season (506), goals in a season (233), assists in a season (128), shots in a season (701), shots on goal in a season (423), points per game (21.21), goals per game (13.71), assists per game (7.53), shots per game (41.24), and shots on goal per game (24.88). Under Coach Whitley, the 2023 Knights would finish ranked in the NCAA Top 20 in several statistical categories, including Man Down Defense (7th), Clearing Percentage (11th), Shot Percentage (11th), Scoring Margin (15th), Scoring Offense (18th), Points Per Game (18th), Assists Per Game (19th), and Winning Percentage (20th). 2023 was the second year in a row the Knights Man Down Defense earned Top 10 honors. The 2023 team also produced the program's 4th ever All-American in Kyle Playsted and two of the program's seven total Scholar All-Americans in Jake Berggren and Benny O'Rourk. Coach Whitley has now mentored two of Bellarmine's four All-Americans and five of Bellarmine's seven Scholar All-Americans.

 

Individually, many Knights made their mark in the record book under Coach Whitley’s tutelage across the 2023 campaign. The attack unit of Kyle Playsted, Christian Della Rocco, and Captain Benny O’Rourk combined for 199 points, the 4th most out of any attack unit in NCAA Division I. The trio would each individually break the program record for points in a season, with Playsted pacing the group at 79 points and O’Rourk and Della Rocco tying with 60 points apiece.

 

Della Rocco led the ASUN and broke the Bellarmine program record for goals in a season with 50. He went on to make the ASUN All-Tournament Team, and led the Knights in Bellarmine's two tournament games, totaling six goals and an assist. Della Rocco additionally broke the Knights records for goals per game (2.94), shots in a season (127), and shots on goal in a season (79). He tied the record for goals in a game (6) on two occasions in 2023 (VMI 3/4/23, Queens 3/25/23). His 2023 performance was 4th all-time in Bellarmine history at 3.53 points per game. He finished 2023 3rd in career goals, 5th in career points, and 10th in career shots on goal all-time at Bellarmine. O’Rourk would earn 2nd Team All-ASUN Honors and tied Della Rocco for 2nd for points in a season with 60. O’Rourk’s 2023 campaign tied Playsted’s for 2nd all-time for goals in a season (40). He also tied Della Rocco’s 3.53 points per game (4th all-time in Bellarmine history). O’Rourk finished the 2023 season ranked 8th in career assists, 3rd in career points, 3rd in career shots on goal, and tied with Della Rocco for 3rd in career goals (77). Playsted earned 1st Team All-ASUN Honors and was the ASUN Player of the Year. He led the ASUN in points (79) and assists (39). Playsted’s 2023 season was his best yet, breaking the program records for points in a season (79), points per game (4.65), assists in a season (39), and assists per game (2.29). He tied Della Rocco’s record for goals in a game (6) and tied his own record for points in a game (9). He finished 2023 1st in Bellarmine history for career points (161), 1st in career assists (80), 1st in assists per game (1.70), 2nd in points per game (3.43), 2nd in career goals (81), and 7th in career shots on goal. Playsted finished the year ranked 12th in the NCAA for assists per game, 13th for individual man-up goals, and 17th in the NCAA for points per game. He became Bellarmine’s 4th ever All-American, earning an honorable mention selection from Inside Lacrosse.

 

Defenseman Jake Berggren would also earn 2nd Team All-ASUN honors as well as a spot on the ASUN All-Academic Team. He finished the year with 62 ground balls (6th best season in Bellarmine history) and a team leading 23 caused turnovers. Defenseman Brady Long and Midfielder Denton MacDonald would move up to 6th and 9th all-time in career caused turnovers with 38 and 35 respectively. Faceoff Specialist Grant Guthrie was named a member of the ASUN All-Freshman Team, and broke the program record for ground balls in a season with 75. Goalkeeper JC Higginbotham broke the season record for goalkeeper wins with 9. He also tied Dillon Ward’s record for career goalkeeper wins at 19, and moved into 2nd place all-time for career saves with 500. JC’s 157 saves in 2023 were the 4th most in a season at Bellarmine.

In 2022, the Knights first year in the ASUN Conference, Coach Whitley led the program to its second ever post-season birth and an ASUN Conference Semifinal appearance. The Knights would go on to break several team records in 2022, including points in a season (289), goals in a season (180), assists in a season (109), shots in a season (601), and caused turnovers in a season (170).  The team also broke the program records for goals in a game (23) and points in a  game (38) during the 2022 campaign. The defense would finish 7th in NCAA Division I for caused turnovers per game and 4th in man down defense. The Knights also had four All-ASUN selections in Denton MacDonald (2nd Team), Kyle Playsted (2nd Team), Benny O'Rourk (1st Team), and Jon Robbins (1st Team) and a league leading three ASUN All-Freshman Team selections in Brady Long, Aidan Fearn, and Justin Wescoat.

Robbins would go on to become the program's leader and 11th all time in NCAA Division I for career caused turnovers (112). Robbins also broke the program records for caused turnovers in a game (6) and caused turnovers in a season (44) during the 2022 campaign. He finished 2nd all time in the program for career ground balls (180) and became the program's first ever PLL Draft pick (Archers, 4th round, pick 28). Robbins was additionally an ASUN All Academic Team selection, along with senior attackman Luke Legnard. Playsted would add his name to the record books as well, breaking the program records for points in a season (53), points in a game (9), assists in a game (6), and assists in a season (28) across 2022.

After a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Knights achieved the most wins in a season since 2016. In 2021, Coach Whitley led a program that produced three All-SoCon selections in Eric Rubak (1st Team), Jon Robbins (1st Team), and Landon Trout (2nd Team). The 2021 team also produced Bellarmine's third ever All-American in Eric Rubak, three of the programs' five total Academic All-Americans (Rubak, Robbins, and Trout), and seven Academic All-SoCon selections.

Robbins and Rubak finished 5th and 6th nationally for caused turnovers and caused turnovers per game respectively in 2021. Robbins’ efforts would earn him the single season program record for caused turnovers while Rubak became the program career leader for caused turnovers. The defense finished 7th nationally in caused turnovers (9.47), which also broke the program season record. On the offensive side of the ball, Landon Trout finished 17th in the country in individual man-up goals. He also surpassed 100 career points, making him the second player in program history to do so.

Coach Whitley came to Bellarmine after having previously served as the Associate Head Coach at Fairfield University. He joined the Fairfield staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2010 season before being promoted to the role of assistant coach for the 2013 season.  In 2016, Whitley was elevated to Associate  Head Coach of the program.  In his tenure at Fairfield, the Stags would achieve 80 victories while competing in the ECAC and CAA. Coach Whitley helped the Stags become one of the preeminent programs in both conferences by coaching 18 All-CAA selections, 22 All-ECAC selections, along with 3 players being awarded the conference rookie of the year honor.  At the same time, he coached 6 USILA All-Americans, 16 USILA North South All-Stars, and 7 MLL Draft selections.

The Stags would also qualify for 6 conference tournaments in which they advanced to the tournament finals on four occasions.  In ten seasons, Coach Whitley was a member of three Stags teams that were regular season conference champions while setting the school record for single season wins in 2012 and 2014.

Before Fairfield, Coach Whitley served as a volunteer assistant coach at Yale University overseeing the goalkeepers.  In his three seasons in New Haven, the Bulldogs had 10 players earn All-Ivy League honors.  Four players were also named to the USILA North South All-Star game.  Coach Whitley helped the Bulldogs on to 16 victories in his tenure at Yale while competing in the Ivy League. Prior to his time at Yale, Coach Whitley served as an assistant coach at the Hopkins School starting in the 2003  season.  The Hopkins School competed in the Fairchester Athletic Association, winning the championship in 2006. 

In his first and last seasons with the team, he helped in efforts to set school records for winning percentage with an 11-2 record.  Coach Whitley developed some of the school’s best players in program history, coaching two of the institution’s three All-Americans and 19 All-FAA selections. In 2005 he was named the FAA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Whitley began his NCAA coaching career at Wesleyan University in Connecticut as an assistant coach.  In his four seasons in Middletown, Coach Whitley would help the team on to 28 victories.  During his tenure at Wesleyan, the Cardinals advanced to the ECAC tournament on two occasions. 

In 2000, he helped in an effort which led to the school single season record for wins and an appearance in the ECAC Tournament finals.

Before entering the coaching profession, Coach Whitley was the Chief Executive Officer of Ankeny Homes, LLC of Wilton, CT from 2001 to 2008.  Prior to becoming the CEO of Ankeny Homes, he was the Vice President of U.S. Operations of Athletes, Inc where he worked from 1994 to 2001. 

Coach Whitley is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.  He was a two-time All-Centennial Conference selection as a goaltender helping the Diplomats to an NCAA Tournament appearance.  He would finish his career at F&M ranked in the top 20 in Centennial Conference history in career saves, save percentage, and goals against average.  Prior to transferring to F&M, Whitley was a member of two teams at Alfred University that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Alma Mater: Franklin & Marshall '96