Siena University men's lacrosse coach died, the school announced Wednesday, three days after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall at his home.
Liam Gleason, from Wading River, had just turned 41 years old on Nov 28.
Gleason was a 2007 graduate of the University at Albany, where he starred as a defenseman and later as an assistant coach.
This past spring, Gleason led Siena to an 11-5 overall record and claimed a share of the MAAC Regular Season title with a 7-1 league mark, securing the program's first national ranking in 14 years.
“A sudden, senseless loss carries a kind of pain that defies understanding,” Siena President Chuck Seifert said. "It’s hard to imagine anyone more universally loved and admired than Liam. Our community was blessed by Coach Gleason’s life.”
Dozens of people - including Siena players in uniform, school officials and members of the University at Albany athletic community - lined a hospital hallway Wednesday afternoon to pay tribute to Gleason as he was being wheeled into surgery to donate some of his organs, Siena officials said. The school announced his death a couple hours later.
Gleason is survived by his wife and three children.
A funeral service will be held on Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. inside the UHY Center on the Siena University campus, school officials said.