When I first read about what happened to Siena lacrosse coach Liam Gleason, it really made my heart sink. It was one of those moments that makes you stop and feel for someone you’ve never met. I was scrolling through my phone when I saw the news about the serious accident at his home in Halfmoon, New York. It took place on a Sunday afternoon at the end of November.
According to reports, he fell down the stairs, hit his head hard, and even stopped breathing for a while. It sounded terrifying because paramedics had to perform CPR while bringing him to the hospital. I recall the time my cousin fell down the stairs in our old house, and everyone panicked. So I can only imagine how stressful it was for his family.
The unfortunate part is that this happened just two days after he turned forty-one. Instead of enjoying birthday memories, his family is now filled with worry and hoping for his swift recovery.
Siena College shared a brief update asking everyone to keep Coach Gleason and his family in their thoughts. They mentioned that they wouldn’t provide more details now to respect the family’s privacy. I appreciate when schools do this because, in times like these, people need their space.
There is also a GoFundMe page set up for the Gleason family. By Monday night, it had raised more than $128,000. It seems the entire community has come together to support them, showing how much they care about the coach and his family.
Everyone in the Siena community is thinking about his wife, Jaclyn, and their three kids, too. They have been married for around twelve years. Their oldest child, Kennedy, is followed by their sons Penn and Tate. When you have young children, even everyday tasks can feel overwhelming. In a situation like this, I can imagine how tough it must be for Jaclyn to stay strong.
The couple met while studying at the University at Albany. They began dating in 2007 and married in September 2013 after several years. Their daughter, Kennedy Lee Gleason, was born in May 2016, followed by their son, Penn Brendan Gleason, in August 2019. Their youngest, Tate William Gleason, came in April 2021. It feels like a small, happy family that has grown together.
Jaclyn Gleason was also an athlete. She played soccer at the University at Albany from 2006 to 2009. As a defender, she participated in almost every match. Her first season was significant: she scored 6 goals and recorded 2 assists. Later, she developed into a strong defender and became the captain in her senior year.
She excelled academically and earned America East Academic Honor Roll recognition. Before college, she played at Ramapo High School in New Jersey and even competed in varsity lacrosse for four years. It’s nice that both husband and wife have a sports background.
Liam Gleason has been the head coach of Siena men’s lacrosse for seven seasons. Before that, he served as an assistant at Siena and spent a year coaching at The College of Saint Rose. He then returned to the University at Albany and worked there for seven years under coach Scott Marr.
This past season was one of the best in Siena lacrosse history. He helped the Saints win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, their first since 2014. This victory also brought them to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eleven years. In recognition of this achievement, he received the ECAC Division I Men’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year award.
I really hope he recovers soon and returns to his team and family. I may not know him personally, but reading about his story and the support around him connects me to him in some way. Sometimes life throws unexpected challenges at people, and events like this remind us to appreciate the small things. My thoughts are with him, his wife Jaclyn, and their kids. You may also be interested in: “I Am Being Bullied Out Of The Scene” A Downhill Skater Talks About Riders Hurting His Name
