Brown University After graduating from Brown in 1974 with a degree in American Civilization, Starsia joined the
Brown athletic department. Between 1974 and 1982, he served in a number of different roles at Brown, including head coach of the women's
soccer team. In 1982, he became head coach of men's lacrosse and eventually led his
alma mater to two
Ivy League championships, in 1985 and 1991. In both of these seasons, he was recognized nationally with the
F. Morris Touchstone Award as the NCAA Division I lacrosse coach of the year. Starsia coached all-time greats including
Darren Lowe,
Doug Knight,
Michael Watson,
Conor Gill,
Jay Jalbert, Tillman Johnson,
Matt Ward, and
Ben Rubeor. In 2006, Starsia received the Howdy Myers Man of the Year Award at the annual
USILA convention. Two years later, in 2008, he was inducted into the
Lacrosse National Hall of Fame by
US Lacrosse. Following Virginia's 2011 national championship season, Starsia was also nominated for an
ESPY Award for Best Coach/Manager. Starsia left the Virginia program at the conclusion of the 2016 season after a poor run of four seasons that included two losing records – only the program's third and fourth since the NCAA championship era began in 1971 – and a 1–15 mark in ACC play. At the time, media outlets reported Starsia had been fired. In a 2018 interview with
The Daily Progress, Starsia recounted that then-athletic director
Craig Littlepage indeed told him the day after the 2016 season concluded that the university was not extending his contract, which expired at the end of the calendar year, and gave him an opportunity to resign. Starsia countered that he retained the confidence of players and alumni and asked for a five-month extension to coach the 2017 season, after which he would resign if Littlepage remained unsatisfied with the team's results. According to Starsia, Littlepage agreed to this weeks later after heavy pressure from alumni and boosters, at which point Starsia declined it and resigned due to the perceived lack of respect.
Chrome Lacrosse Club In February 2019, Starsia was introduced as the head coach for the
Chrome Lacrosse Club of the
Premier Lacrosse League.
Blue Ridge School On November 12, 2020, Starsia was announced as the new head coach of the boys lacrosse team at the
Blue Ridge School in St. George, Virginia. ==Personal life==