Lacrosse Hall Of Famer, Manhasset Teacher And Coach, Bob Rule Dies

MANHASSET, NY — Bob Rule, a lacrosse leader and champion and former Manhasset teacher and coach, died earlier this month at age 73, USA Lacrosse shared.

Rule attended Manhasset High School, going on to be an integral part of the Cornell University lacrosse team winning the first-ever NCAA lacrosse championship in 1971. Later, as Manhasset's lacrosse coach, he brought seven teams to the state finals, and led Manhasset to four state wins.

Rule was also the starting goalie on the 1974 U.S. Men's National Team, which captured the world title.

Rule was the only athlete in Cornell's history to play on national championship teams in two different sports: He was a backup goaltender on the 1969-1970 Cornell hockey team.

According to USA Lacrosse, the first game Rule ever played as a Manhasset High School athlete was also the first lacrosse game he ever saw. He would go on to rack up accolades like most valuable player on the 1971 Cornell team, and inductions into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and others.

Rule died Nov. 6 at his Block Island home, where he lived full time after retiring as a Manhasset High School history teacher in 2014. He spent four decades teaching and coaching in Manhasset.

Bill Cherry succeeded Rule as Manhasset's top lacrosse coach. He told USA Lacrosse that Rule "had such an easy manner as a coach and the kids just loved him."

"He was a fun-loving guy with a great sense of humor who just brightened up everyone’s day. He was a wonderful person.”