Anthony Mackin was named the first head coach of the Averett University's men’s lacrosse program in June 2016.
After a year of recruiting, Mackin coached the Cougars in their inaugural season in 2018. The program took the field for the first time on Feb. 14, 2018, and his first squad received the USA South Conference's Sportsmanship Award for men's lacrosse. In 2019, he guided Averett to the program's first win in a 7-3 home victory over Franciscan University of Steubenville.
In 2021, the Cougars had their best season yet in their young history, notching four wins while starting the season 4-1. Mackin produced the 2021 USA South Rookie of the Year as well as multiple weekly award winners. The Cougars set numerous team and individual records during the campaign. His 2022 squad picked up three wins in the first five contests and also made history by recording the young program's first conference win with a 14-13 overtime victory over Huntingdon College.
In 2023, as Averett moved to the highly competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Mackin guided the Cougars to a 3-11 record and coached Averett to its first-ever ODAC win with a 15-4 victory at Randolph College.
Mackin's players have succeeded off the field as well. In 2023, he had one player earn Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators and the top GPA award for sophomore male student-athletes at Averett Athletics' Night of Champions.
Mackin came to Averett from Tusculum College, a Division II school in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he was the associate head coach for three seasons and helped start the men’s lacrosse program during the 2013-14 school year. Over his final two seasons with the Pioneers, Mackin was the defensive coordinator after serving as the offensive coordinator in 2014.
A native of Springfield, Virginia, Mackin gained coaching experience at various levels. Prior to his time at Tusculum, he was the assistant coach at Division I Virginia Military Institute. He also coached VMI’s junior varsity program for two seasons. Additionally, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator during two stints at his alma mater, Lycoming College, was a graduate assistant coach for one season at Marymount University and was an assistant coach at Hayfield Secondary School. Mackin has coached a number of all-conference performers and one Major League Lacrosse draft pick.
Mackin was a four-year member of the Lycoming men’s lacrosse program, and the defenseman was a team captain his senior year, which was cut short due to injury.
Mackin received his bachelor’s degree in history from Lycoming in 2008 and he earned his master’s degree in secondary education from Marymount in 2010. He lives in Danville along with his wife, Terese, daughter, Virginia, and sons, Jack and Michael.
