Bill Tierney, the coach who delivered the University of Denver its first national lacrosse championship, is recovering at his Denver-area home after a heart-related health issue and surgery last week. The 75-year-old's health news has prompted support from Denver Athletics and the Tierney family; Tierney is one of the sport's most decorated figures.
According to the Denver Gazette, Tierney is “recovering well” at his home in the Denver metro area following the procedure. The University of Denver confirmed the news in a statement, saying Tierney is recovering after a heart-related health issue and surgery, and that “All of Denver Athletics has Bill, Helen and the entire Tierney family in their thoughts.” The university added that Denver Athletics looks forward to seeing Tierney back in the stands at Peter Barton Stadium this spring.
A Coaching Career Built on Championships
Tierney took over the University of Denver men's lacrosse program in July 2009, according to Denver Pioneers Athletics. He led the Pioneers to the program's first NCAA men's lacrosse national championship in 2015, a breakthrough that also made him the first coach to win an NCAA Division I championship west of the Mississippi River, per the same account.
That 2015 title made Tierney the first coach in the sport's history to win national championships with two different programs — a distinction tied to his earlier dominance at Princeton, where he won six national championships, the Denver Gazette reports. Across his full coaching career, Tierney amassed seven national championships overall.
Records on Tierney's exact tenure and win total at Denver vary by source. The Denver Gazette reports he coached at DU for 14 seasons and went 169-59 overall, with a 69-8 mark in conference games. Denver Pioneers Athletics also cites 14 seasons at DU but lists a 167-59 overall record, while an earlier 2023 Denver Gazette report put his Denver record at 157-54 and his career collegiate record at 429-147. The Premier Lacrosse League, meanwhile, states that Tierney retired from college coaching after the 2023 season with a 439-152 record, and Denver Pioneers Athletics cites that same career mark with a .743 winning percentage.
From the Sidelines at DU to the Pro Ranks
Tierney's retirement from college coaching didn't end his career on the sideline. He joined the Philadelphia Waterdogs as head coach in 2024, according to the Premier Lacrosse League, after spending 49 years coaching high school and college lacrosse.
The move paid off this year. The Waterdogs finished the 2026 regular season 9-3 and advanced to the U.S. Bank PLL Championship, the league's article notes. Philadelphia then dominated the Denver Outlaws 14-4 to capture the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League title, as reported by the Denver Post. The win made Tierney the first lacrosse coach to claim a championship at both the NCAA and professional levels, according to the same Denver Post report.
That championship run came just weeks before his health scare, adding a bittersweet note to the outpouring of support now surrounding him. For now, the University of Denver's message has been simple: Tierney is resting at home, and the program that he built into a national power is hoping to see him back at Peter Barton Stadium when lacrosse season returns this spring.
