Justin Manjares has been a member of the Maritime men’s lacrosse staff since 2014. After five years as an assistant coach, he became the Privateers’ interim head coach in 2019 before assuming the role full-time in 2020. Manjares also serves as Maritime’s Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting.
A three-time Skyline Conference Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2023), he has led Maritime to three Skyline championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Manjares guided the Privateers to 33 consecutive victories against conference opponents (regular and postseason) from 2019 until the streak was snapped in the 2023 Skyline Championship Game.
During his first season at the helm, Manjares led Maritime to unprecedented success. The Privateers went 6-0 in Skyline play during the regular season, then capped off the undefeated conference campaign by beating Merchant Marine in the championship game. Maritime made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and earned a thrilling, 14-13 overtime victory against Grove City in the first round. The Privateers finished the season with an overall mark of 15-4, setting a school record for victories. Manjares was named Skyline Coach of the Year and the Privateers swept the conference’s major awards. Matt DeMeo was selected as the Skyline Offensive Player of the Year while also earning All-America honors. Mark Buchner was chosen as the Skyline Defensive Player of the Year and Kevin Buser was recognized as the Skyline Rookie of the Year, as the Privateers collected nine all-conference selections.
After the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maritime returned to the NCAA Tournament in the abbreviated 2021 campaign. Manjares was honored as the Skyline Coach of the Year for a second time, as the Privateers won their first eight games, including a 14-13 triumph over Farmingdale in the Skyline Championship Game, before falling to St. John Fisher in the NCAA Tournament. Joe Kiernan was named Skyline Rookie of the Year, as Maritime placed eight players on the all-conference team.
In 2022, the Privateers made their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament as Skyline Conference champions. Maritime started the year just 2-7 before posting nine straight wins. The Privateers dominated Farmingdale, 22-13, in the Skyline Championship Game for their third consecutive conference title. Maritime went on to face Stevens in the NCAA Tournament. Seven Privateers took home All-Skyline honors, including Co-Rookie of the Year Michael Monahan.
The Privateers beat a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time in 2023, topping No. 20 Coast Guard 10-7 at Reinhart Field. That victory started a school-record 11-game winning streak, as Maritime went undefeated in conference play during the regular season for the fourth straight time. Manjares earned his third Skyline Coach of the Year award, while Matthew Weigand was named Skyline Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an honorable mention All-American. Weigand was one of nine All-Skyline performers for the Privateers that season.
Prior to becoming head coach, Manjares was an assistant under Head Coach Daniel Lawrence. Maritime improved from 5-11 overall and 1-5 in the Skyline in 2014, their first season on Fort Schuyler, to 10-5 overall and 4-2 in Skyline play during the 2018 campaign, which earned the Privateers the No. 2 seed in the Skyline Tournament. DeMeo was the Skyline Rookie of the Year, as Maritime placed five players on the all-conference team. The 2017 season, meanwhile, featured a 16-0 win at Maine Maritime, just the third shutout in program history.
Manjares also has international coaching experience with the Filipino National Team. As head coach, he successfully guided the Philippines through the Asia-Pacific qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.
