LEFT: Elliot Schwartz posing for a photo in 1982 in lacrosse uniform; CENTER: Current head shot of Elliot Schwartz; RIGHT: Schwartz kneeling in front of his teammates

FOBA 7/24/2026 11:54:00 AM Adam Levin '94

Hall of Fame Spotlight: Elliot Schwartz '82

FOBA 7/24/2026 11:54:00 AM Adam Levin '94

Hall of Fame Spotlight: Elliot Schwartz '82

For many college athletes, hall-of-fame legacy is measured strictly in numbers: goals scored, championships won, or school records shattered. But for Elliot Schwartz, becoming the very first lacrosse player inducted into the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame is about something far deeper than a stat sheet—especially for a program that no longer exists on campus.
It is the culmination of a lifelong passion for competition, a lesson in humility, and a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and camaraderie.

Long before he put on a Judge uniform in the early 1980s, Schwartz was just a kid growing up in the lacrosse hotbed of Elmont, New York, on Long Island. He idolized his older brother and naturally followed in his footsteps, stick in hand.

"I spent my entire childhood bouncing a ball," Schwartz recalled. "I used to throw a lacrosse ball against my house until my mother screamed at me. And then, when she stopped screaming, I'd wait a few minutes and start throwing it again."

By his junior year of high school, Schwartz was playing alongside All-Americans on a New York State championship team. Surrounded by elite talent, he developed a deep appreciation for the game and an instinct for personal accountability.

When it came time to choose a college, Schwartz sought a balance between high-level academics and his athletic passion. Brandeis provided the perfect fit—a top-tier education in the Boston area where he could compete at the varsity level without compromising his academic aspirations.

During Schwartz's era, Brandeis lacrosse was far from an intercollegiate powerhouse. In terms of wins and losses, Schwartz candidly admits the team was "mediocre at best." But the scoreboard was never the measuring stick that mattered most to him.

"That didn't matter to me," Schwartz said. "Just the fact that I could play this sport in college was really a gift that I never took for granted."

Under the guidance of head coach Mike Coven - himself a Hall of Fame inductee for his 44 seasons and four Final Appearances with the men's soccer team - the team forged a tight-knit bond where finger-pointing was non-existent. Wins and losses were met with equal measures of grace and self-reflection. For Schwartz, Brandeis offered a sense of belonging that rivaled the atmosphere of any major sports university. "Brandeis was my Indiana," he reflected. "That was my rah-rah, because that's all I knew, and I was just happy to play."

His unwavering commitment to sportsmanship earned him the prestigious Morris Sepinuck Award during his senior year—an honor presented to a varsity athlete who demonstrated outstanding character on and off the field. It was a career highlight that reflected his core belief: how you carry yourself matters infinitely more than the outcome on the field.

When Schwartz reflects on his time at Brandeis, his thoughts invariably turn to Coach Coven—a mentor whose loyalty extended far beyond the sidelines.

Schwartz vividly remembers a tense senior-year match against Providence College. Near the end of the game, an opposing defender cornered him and hurled a vile anti-Semitic slur directly into his face mask. Reacting on instinct, Schwartz retaliated, resulting in both players being ejected.

When Schwartz explained the situation on the sideline, Coach Coven went berserk in defense of his player, standing firmly behind Schwartz's response in the heat of the moment. "Coach Coven was my buddy, the guy who stood behind me with whatever decision I made," Schwartz said. "I truly respect him for that."

That bond did not end at graduation. A quarter-century after Schwartz left Brandeis, out of the blue, his cell phone rang. It was Coach Coven calling to offer his heartfelt condolences after learning that Schwartz's wife had passed away.

"Here's a guy, 25 years after I graduated, and he's still my coach, and I was still one of his players," Schwartz said. "It was just an incredibly beautiful gesture."

Decades after stepping off the field, Schwartz's induction into the Brandeis Hall of Fame represents the pinnacle of his athletic journey. Serving as the sole representative for Brandeis lacrosse in the Hall of Fame carries a unique honor, immortalizing a program and a brotherhood that profoundly shaped his life.

More than the accolades or receiving the Hall of Fame jacket, Schwartz is most eager to share the milestone with his children and grandchildren. For him, the induction serves as a living lesson in character, hard work, and integrity.

"Winning is great, losing is okay too—you win and lose with humility," Schwartz said. "It's an incredibly special honor for me... top of the list."

Print Friendly Version