Chad Surman enters his fourth season as head coach of Iona University men's lacrosse in 2025–26 and his second year guiding the Gaels in varsity competition. As the architect of the newest Division I program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Surman has led Iona from concept to competition, overseeing every aspect of building the team from scratch.
In 2024–25, the Gaels completed their inaugural season on the field with a roster composed entirely of true and redshirt freshmen. The team posted two victories, including a conference win over Quinnipiac, and earned multiple league honors. Three student-athletes - long stick midfielder Tochi Agwamba and attackers Jimmy Kennedy and Cullen Lawry - were named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team, while Lawry and attacker Jake Riglietti earned Rookie of the Week nods.
Surman was named Iona's first head men's lacrosse coach in October 2022. He spent the 2022–23 academic year recruiting and assembling the initial roster and bringing in a second wave of talent during the 2023–24 year in advance of the team's launch.
Before arriving in New Rochelle, Surman held coaching positions at every level of collegiate lacrosse, with a strong emphasis on player development, defense, and culture-building. In 2022, he served as defensive coordinator and player development coach at Manhattan College, joining the staff shortly after the Jaspers won the MAAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. He brought veteran leadership and a structured defensive approach to a program coming off one of its most successful seasons.
Prior to Manhattan, Surman spent seven years at Mercer University, including two as head coach from 2021–22. He led the Bears through a period of growth and transition and was instrumental in developing one of the Southern Conference's most physical and disciplined defensive units. He was a key recruiter and mentor, elevating both the athletic and academic standards of the program. As an assistant from 2015–2020, he served as defensive coordinator and helped build a foundation for the program's competitiveness in the SoCon. During his Mercer tenure, he also represented the coaching community nationally as a member of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules Committee and as an assistant coach representative for the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA).
Surman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Salisbury University, where he contributed to the program's ongoing national success and gained experience in film analysis, player mentoring, and team operations. In 2015, he moved to Division I Lehigh University as a volunteer assistant coach, helping lead the Mountain Hawks' extra-man offense and supporting offensive game planning.
A proven winner as both a coach and a player, Surman is a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion, anchoring Salisbury University's defense in 2011 and 2012. He appeared in 44 games for the Seagulls with 36 starts, helping lead a unit ranked second nationally in scoring defense both seasons. Surman began his collegiate playing career at Le Moyne College (NCAA Division II), helping the Dolphins reach the NCAA Championship game while contributing to a defense that allowed under 4.0 goals per game. He then moved to the junior college ranks and won a NJCAA National Championship with Onondaga Community College in 2010. In 2016, he attended training camp with Major League Lacrosse's Atlanta Blaze.
Surman earned a bachelor's degree in history (2012) and a master's degree in teaching (2014) from Salisbury University. He resides in New York City with his family.
