Penn State men’s lacrosse lost two of its three captains from 2023 and needed leaders to step up to take the reins of the team following a heartbreaking loss to end the season.  

On September 21, Tambroni announced that Jack Posey and TJ Malone would team up with returning captain Grant Haus as the Nittany Lions’ captains for the 2024 season. Even with two fresh faces in the role, the coaching staff didn’t permit a grace period for the incoming leaders.  

“The expectations are very high when it comes to their ability to lead by example, to lead this team in general,” Tambroni said. “We have great faith in each and every one of those guys, on and off the field, in the way that they will lead this group.” 

Although leading by example is a vital characteristic for all captains, Tambroni knew that coming off a tough loss in the NCAA Final Four, he would need more out of his captains this offseason. 

“These guys we had expected to come in and take on a leadership role and that just doesn’t mean they’re coming. They’re prepared,” Tambroni said. “They’re helping others adapt — the freshmen adapt — to their experience here at Penn State.”  

Yet with the new roles, the pressure of completing another postseason run, and the lofty expectations put on them by the coaching staff, the trio has thrived. In terms of their leadership performance thus far, Tambroni had nothing but praise.  

“They’re about as good as it gets regarding their obsession to the craft, the sport of lacrosse, being great teammates, what it takes to serve both classmates and teammates at an extremely elite level,” Tambroni said. “We’re grateful that they’re going to be the ones leading that locker room as we head out to the season.” 

This leadership group will become even better with a boost in the coming months in the form of a healthy Posey. As much as he has been an excellent teammate off the field and in the classroom, Posey’s on-the-field leadership has been noted by his teammates to be just as superb.

The defender went down late in the season in an NCAA Tournament match against Army and is still working to get back on the field. Posey was drafted in 2023 to the National Lacrosse League but decided to return to Happy Valley for his fifth year to try to take this team to the national championship one last time. 

While repeating its success from last season is no easy feat, having Malone, Posey, and Haus at the helm will give Penn State the best chance to do so. The No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions will begin their quest back to the NCAA Final Four on Saturday, February 3, at Panzer Stadium against Colgate.