2016 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame: Stan Cockerton
8/15/2016 1:32:00 PM | Pack Athletics
Hall of Fame ceremony takes place Sept. 16 in the newly renovated Reynolds Coliseum
NC State Athletic Hall of Fame | 2016 Induction Ceremony | Purchase Tickets
RALEIGH, N.C. - He might be one of the greatest athletes to ever put on a NC State uniform, but he might also be an unfamiliar name to many Wolfpack fans. Former four-time lacrosse All-American Stan Cockerton takes his rightful spot in the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 2016 class on September 16.
A native of Oshawa, Canada, Cockerton was part of the men's lacrosse program at NC State from 1977-80. NC State had a men's lacrosse team for only 10 seasons (1973-82), but Cockerton was the best NC State ever had. His name, almost 40 years later, still appears in the NCAA and ACC record books as one of the greatest attackers in collegiate history.
In 44 career games, Cockerton scored an amazing 193 career goals. That was an NCAA record all the way until 2008, and that mark still stands third all-time in NCAA history. He averaged 4.39 goals per game, and his average of 6.36 points an outing, he also had 87 career assists, currently sits second-best all-time in the NCAA record books.
He led the ACC in scoring in each of his four seasons, was named All-ACC all four years, and was the ACC Player of the Year twice. He was also the only former NC State lacrosse player selected to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
"My time at NC State was nothing but positive, on the field and off the field," Cockerton said in a 2014 interview with The Wolfpacker. "I still keep in touch with several teammates, and we all hope one day to see NC State lacrosse back on the field.
"I always was, and always will be, a Wolfpacker in my heart."
He blazed onto the collegiate scene when he led the nation as a freshman in 1977 with 54 goals. The Pack had its best season in its brief history up to that point, finishing 10-4 and reaching No. 14 in the national polls. His sophomore season NC State was ranked as high as No. 9 during the year.
In between his sophomore and junior seasons, Cockerton led Canada to the championship at the World Games as part of the Canadian National Team. He scored the overtime goal in the defeat of the U.S., and was named the tournament MVP and the Lacrosse Player of the Year.
NC State lacrosse reached new heights in Cockerton's junior season, as the Wolfpack would earn its first and only NCAA Tournament bid in program history. The No. 8 seeded Wolfpack fell to eventual national champion John Hopkins in the first round. In 1979, only eight teams advanced to postseason play.
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In 1980, Cockerton saw his NC State career come to an end with a 6-5 record.
After his NC State playing days, Cockerton's No. 15 was retired by NC State, being only the third NC State athlete at that time to have his number retired in any school sport.
Two years after Cockerton graduated in 1982, former NC State AD Willis Casey decided to drop the sport, in both a cost cutting and Title IX compliance measure. Lacrosse was expensive, not because of facilities or equipment, but because few high schools in North Carolina sponsored the sport and virtually all recruiting had to be done out of state, usually in Maryland or New York. The North Carolina High School Athletics Association didn't have its first state championship in boys' and girls' lacrosse until 2010.
Before he ventured down to NC State, Cockerton made his mark on the Oshawa Lacrosse scene over a five-year career with the Junior Green Gaels. Stan scored 389 goals, amassed 403 assists, and earned MVP in both 1975 and 1976.
The NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will be Cockerton's fourth such honor. He was first selected for the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2003 he was elected into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he was enshrined into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
"Lacrosse defines my life," Cockerton said at his National Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction. "Pretty much everything I do is lacrosse."
In addition to his own numerous honors, Cockerton has further established the family name in collegiate lacrosse after seeing his two sons recently conclude their careers at the University of Virginia. Matt (2010-13) and Mark (2011-14) both were attackers for the Cavaliers, and helped UVA win a national championship in 2011.
Mark was a two-time All-American (2013-14), and finished his career ranked eighth in school history with 125 goals in 63 career games. Along with his father, the duo owns the NCAA all-time father/son goal-scoring record with 318 career goals.
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After his lacrosse career came to an end, Cockerton has been an executive with both the Ontario Lacrosse Association and International Lacrosse Federation, as well the founder of the Heritage Cup.
Created in 2012 and now boasting 36 total members, the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will honor its 2016 class in a grand reopening gala on Friday, September 16 at the newly-renovated Reynolds Coliseum. To purchase tickets to the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony, click HERE.
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RALEIGH, N.C. - He might be one of the greatest athletes to ever put on a NC State uniform, but he might also be an unfamiliar name to many Wolfpack fans. Former four-time lacrosse All-American Stan Cockerton takes his rightful spot in the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 2016 class on September 16.
A native of Oshawa, Canada, Cockerton was part of the men's lacrosse program at NC State from 1977-80. NC State had a men's lacrosse team for only 10 seasons (1973-82), but Cockerton was the best NC State ever had. His name, almost 40 years later, still appears in the NCAA and ACC record books as one of the greatest attackers in collegiate history.
In 44 career games, Cockerton scored an amazing 193 career goals. That was an NCAA record all the way until 2008, and that mark still stands third all-time in NCAA history. He averaged 4.39 goals per game, and his average of 6.36 points an outing, he also had 87 career assists, currently sits second-best all-time in the NCAA record books.
He led the ACC in scoring in each of his four seasons, was named All-ACC all four years, and was the ACC Player of the Year twice. He was also the only former NC State lacrosse player selected to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
"My time at NC State was nothing but positive, on the field and off the field," Cockerton said in a 2014 interview with The Wolfpacker. "I still keep in touch with several teammates, and we all hope one day to see NC State lacrosse back on the field.
"I always was, and always will be, a Wolfpacker in my heart."
He blazed onto the collegiate scene when he led the nation as a freshman in 1977 with 54 goals. The Pack had its best season in its brief history up to that point, finishing 10-4 and reaching No. 14 in the national polls. His sophomore season NC State was ranked as high as No. 9 during the year.
In between his sophomore and junior seasons, Cockerton led Canada to the championship at the World Games as part of the Canadian National Team. He scored the overtime goal in the defeat of the U.S., and was named the tournament MVP and the Lacrosse Player of the Year.
NC State lacrosse reached new heights in Cockerton's junior season, as the Wolfpack would earn its first and only NCAA Tournament bid in program history. The No. 8 seeded Wolfpack fell to eventual national champion John Hopkins in the first round. In 1979, only eight teams advanced to postseason play.
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In 1980, Cockerton saw his NC State career come to an end with a 6-5 record.
After his NC State playing days, Cockerton's No. 15 was retired by NC State, being only the third NC State athlete at that time to have his number retired in any school sport.
Two years after Cockerton graduated in 1982, former NC State AD Willis Casey decided to drop the sport, in both a cost cutting and Title IX compliance measure. Lacrosse was expensive, not because of facilities or equipment, but because few high schools in North Carolina sponsored the sport and virtually all recruiting had to be done out of state, usually in Maryland or New York. The North Carolina High School Athletics Association didn't have its first state championship in boys' and girls' lacrosse until 2010.
Before he ventured down to NC State, Cockerton made his mark on the Oshawa Lacrosse scene over a five-year career with the Junior Green Gaels. Stan scored 389 goals, amassed 403 assists, and earned MVP in both 1975 and 1976.
The NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will be Cockerton's fourth such honor. He was first selected for the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2003 he was elected into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he was enshrined into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
"Lacrosse defines my life," Cockerton said at his National Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction. "Pretty much everything I do is lacrosse."
In addition to his own numerous honors, Cockerton has further established the family name in collegiate lacrosse after seeing his two sons recently conclude their careers at the University of Virginia. Matt (2010-13) and Mark (2011-14) both were attackers for the Cavaliers, and helped UVA win a national championship in 2011.
Mark was a two-time All-American (2013-14), and finished his career ranked eighth in school history with 125 goals in 63 career games. Along with his father, the duo owns the NCAA all-time father/son goal-scoring record with 318 career goals.
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| Matt Cockerton | Mark Cockerton |
After his lacrosse career came to an end, Cockerton has been an executive with both the Ontario Lacrosse Association and International Lacrosse Federation, as well the founder of the Heritage Cup.
Created in 2012 and now boasting 36 total members, the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will honor its 2016 class in a grand reopening gala on Friday, September 16 at the newly-renovated Reynolds Coliseum. To purchase tickets to the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony, click HERE.
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