UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni announced the promotion of assistant coach John Haus to become the programs associate head coach for the upcoming 2024 season on Tuesday afternoon.
"John's contributions over the past six years have been instrumental to our team's success" stated Tambroni. "He is an amazing role model and a compassionate leader. We are fortunate to have him on staff here at Penn State."
As a continuous role model to the team, Haus remains home in Happy Valley after spending the past six seasons as the Nittany Lions' assistant coach. Haus played an instrumental role in guiding Penn State to its two NCAA Final Four Appearances, the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Championship title, and two Big Ten Regular Season titles. Under his guidance and with the support of coach Tambroni, Haus aided in two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award winners and one NCAA all-time goals leader.
"I want to thank Penn State and most importantly coach Tambroni for giving me the opportunity to start my journey here six years ago" stated Haus. "I can't wait to continue to build upon our success at one of the greatest universities in the country with an unbelievable staff and group of young men."
He coached Mac O'Keefe who became the NCAA's all-time goals leader during the 2021 season and played an integral role in the 2019 team setting a program record with 323 goals, including a school-record 27 in a win over Robert Morris. The Lions, who went 16-2 and won their first-ever Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, led the NCAA in assists per game (10.83), man-up offense (.613), points per game (28.78), scoring margin (+6.89). scoring offense (17.94) and shot percentage (.434). Individually, Grant Ament set NCAA records for assists (96) and assists per game (5.65), while Mac O'Keefe set a Big Ten and program record for goals (78). Ament was selected as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award.
In 2023, he coached Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year winner TJ Malone who led the Big Ten in points per game (4.29) and points with a career-high 73. Malone was named a 2023 top 25 Tewaaraton Award finalist and was recognized as an All-American by three outlets (USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine) he was also named to the NCAA tournament All-Tournament team. Haus's offense led the Big Ten in points per game with 21.56 and assists per game at 8.06. He also guided the Nittany Lions to leading the Big Ten in man-up scoring percentage (.471) and man-up goals per game (1.50). He helped guide the team to its second NCAA Final Four appearance in just four years as well as its second Big Ten Regular Season title in four years.
Haus, a former three-time All-American and Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star, joined the Nittany Lions after serving as an assistant coach and the offensive coordinator at Furman University for two seasons. During his tenure with the Paladins, he assisted in all aspects of the program, including player development, recruitment, and video breakdown. In his most recent season, he mentored the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, while five other players earned second-team All-SoCon honors.
Prior to his time at Furman, Haus was an assistant coach at High Point University for one season, where he led the goalie unit. Under his leadership, the team logged a 57-percentage save percentage, while starting goalkeeper Austin Geisler finished 16th in the nation in save percentage. In addition to his work with the goalie unit, Haus helped with offensive game plans and scouting reports.
Haus began his post-graduate coaching career at Dickinson College, serving as the assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the team for one season.
Haus was selected by the Charlotte Hounds with the 15th pick of the 2013 MLL Draft and played in the 2013 championship game. He was a captain for the Hounds starting in 2015 and was an All-Star game participant during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Haus went on to play three seasons for the Whipsnakes in the PLL, helping the team earn titles in each of the first two seasons before finishing as the runner-up in his final season.
In January 2017, Haus was named to the 23-player travel roster that represented the United States in the Federation of International Lacrosse Men's World Championship July 12-21, 2018 in Netanya, Israel.
A standout at the University of Maryland, Haus was a first-team All-ACC and USILA first-team All-America selection in 2013, playing in the Terrapins' midfield. During his time in College Park, Haus earned the team's awards for the team's top midfielder (2013) and the team's unsung hero (2012). A 2012 and 2011 USILA All-America honorable mention, he helped guide the Terps to an ACC Championship in 2011.
