J.P. Brazel enters his 24th season in collegiate coaching in 2026, including 18 seasons at the NCAA Division I level. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of the game's most respected recruiters, player developers, and program builders, serving in virtually every major leadership role within Division I lacrosse, including Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, NCAA Compliance Liaison, and Goaltenders Coach.
While at  Stony Brook University as Associate Head Coach in 2019-25, Brazel played a pivotal role in the program's emergence as one of the nation's premier defensive teams. Under his leadership, Stony Brook developed into one of the nation's top defensive programs. His defensive units consistently ranked among the nation's top third, and in just his second season the Seawolves recorded their lowest goals-against average in several years. That foundation ultimately led to the nation's No. 1 man-down defense in 2023 while developing multiple All-Conference performers, National Players of the Week, and professional-caliber athletes.
Prior to Stony Brook, Brazel spent eight successful seasons at Hofstra University, where he served as Offensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, Goaltenders Coach, and Co-Defensive Coordinator. During his tenure, the Pride reached six CAA Tournament appearances, climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings, and developed four USILA All-Americans, 46 All-CAA selections, three CAA Players of the Year, two Scholar All-Americans, and numerous professional players.
His coaching career also includes successful stops at the University of Delaware, Sacred Heart University, Manhattan College, and Nassau Community College. At Delaware, Brazel helped lead the Blue Hens to the 2011 CAA Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. At Sacred Heart, he helped guide the Pioneers to one of the most successful seasons in program history while developing nationally ranked goaltenders. He began his collegiate coaching career at Nassau Community College, helping lead the Lions to three NJCAA Final Four appearances and multiple Regional Championships while developing numerous All-American and All-Region goaltenders and defenders.
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, Brazel is the Founder and Director of BrazLax, one of Long Island's premier player development organizations. Through BrazLax, he has developed hundreds of athletes while overseeing all aspects of business operations, staff leadership, curriculum development, recruiting, and organizational growth.
A 1999 NJCAA National Champion at Nassau Community College before completing his collegiate career at Hofstra University, Brazel's coaching philosophy is rooted in accountability, discipline, relationships, and continuous improvement. His programs are built on a culture that emphasizes player development, academic achievement, championship standards, and preparing student-athletes for success long after their playing careers have ended.
As both a Nassau Community College National Champion and former assistant coach, Brazel understands firsthand the tradition, expectations, and transformative role the program plays in the lives of student-athletes. Returning to lead the Lions represents an opportunity to bring more than two decades of Division I coaching experience back to the institution where his collegiate journey began, with the goal of restoring Nassau as one of the nation's premier junior college lacrosse programs.
