BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- The Summer of 2025 marks the end of an era at Massachusetts Maritime Academy as women's lacrosse assistant coach Marc Palombo announced his retirement from coaching in early July.

A proud 1978 graduate of the Academy, Palombo returned to Buzzards Bay in 2011 to help launch the newly formed Buccaneers women's lacrosse program, serving as an assistant coach under head coaches Julie Rigo and Leslie Bushy. In 2017, he was named the program's third head coach and went on to become the winningest coach in team history between 2017 and 2023. During his seven-year tenure at the helm, Palombo led the Buccaneers to their first conference playoff appearance in 2019 and again in 2022, with both seasons finishing with winning records of 9-7 and 9-8. After the 2023 season, he stepped down as head coach but remained on staff as an assistant under Mikayla Correia through the 2025 campaign.

Current head coach Mikayla Correia said of Palombo, "Coach Marc has been with the program since its inception. His fingerprints are on every milestone we've achieved. Through his steadfast commitment to doing the little things right, he has helped shape Buccaneer Women's Lacrosse into what it is today. As he officially retires from coaching, we celebrate not only his accomplishments but also the heart, humility, and leadership he brought to every practice, game, and player interaction. Coach Marc's legacy will always be a part of this program."

A Nahant, Massachusetts native, Palombo is one of the most decorated and versatile student-athletes in the Academy's history. He earned 12 varsity letters in football, hockey, and lacrosse—serving as captain in all three sports. In lacrosse, he was a four-time All-League honoree and was selected to play in both the East-West and North-South All-Star games as a senior. He also earned All-League recognition in hockey twice and in football once. In 2001, he was inducted into the Academy's Athletics Hall of Fame in honor of his outstanding contributions as a Buccaneer student-athlete.

Thank you, Coach Palombo, for all you have done for Buccaneers women's lacrosse, the Department of Athletics, and the Academy as a whole.