Business Owner, Lacrosse Standout Supports Hofstra Mens' Program

Former Hofstra University men's lacrosse student-athlete James C. Metzger has presented the school with a substantial leadership gift for the renovation of the Harry Royle-Vincent Sombrotto men's lacrosse locker room.

A three-sport star at Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills during the 1970s and then an All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra, Metzger has supported Hofstra Athletics for more than a decade. He also champions boys’ lacrosse across Long Island, with annual player recognition awards at his high school alma mater, leadership awards for the Nassau County championships and the most valuable player awards at the Long Island championship games. Metzger’s commitment to the sport has included more than eight years of support for the Hempstead PAL Lacrosse Program.

"To honor my former coach and teammate while I enhance the athletics facilities is truly gratifying for me," stated Metzger, who is a 1983 graduate of Hofstra. "Harry Royle gave me the opportunity to start as a freshman, and Vinnie Sombrotto was an inspirational superstar player, both of whom I admire and respect. I left the program after my sophomore year, but benefited greatly from my experience while I played, which gave me a lifetime of memories and formed an important part of the foundation upon which I build both my personal and professional life."

Metzger owns Whitmore - The Agency, a leading independent insurance brokerage headquarted in Garden City.

Matching Gift Honors Former Players

Renovation of the Pride lacrosse locker room includes the installation of 48 new lockers and a complete remodel of the facilities. In addition to this gift to the university, Metzger also announced a matching gift campaign for alumni of the lacrosse program. Lockers can be named to honor former players. For each gift of $2,500 offered by a Pride men's lacrosse alumni, Metzger with provide matching funds to name each locker.

"Jim Metzger continues to set a high bar for what it means to support Hofstra Athletics," said Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz. "His unwavering commitment and generosity has helped countless student-athletes, in lacrosse and across all sports, to excel."

State Championships At Hofstra

Metzger’s involvement and contributions to the game of lacrosse on Long Island supported and influenced the decision to showcase the New York State high school boys’ championships at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons.

"Jim is such a special person and his generosity toward our men's lacrosse program and the athletic department is incredible," commented Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole, Jr. "We are grateful for his level of continued support and hope he will inspire others. This gift will allow us to provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes."

The Hofstra project will be completed by the start of the 2020 lacrosse season.

"The Hofstra men's lacrosse program is tremendously fortunate and extremely grateful for the continued support by Jim Metzger," said Hofstra Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Seth Tierney. "Through his great generosity over the years, we have been able to give our student-athletes an exceptional collegiate experience through first-class practice, playing and dressing facilities as well as player study and lounge areas in the locker room.”

Coach Tierney also stated that Metzger’s latest act of kindness will continue to provide current and future Pride members with one of the best locker room complexes in the nation.

"As a student-athlete visiting colleges during the recruiting process, I looked at the facilities of a program-practice, game and locker room as a barometer of the level of commitment from the university to that team," stated senior attackman Ryan Tierney. "Visiting Hofstra, the first thing that I noticed was that all of the facilities involved with the student-athlete were first class from start to finish. As a former All-American student-athlete himself, Mr. Metzger knows very well how important the locker room is for the comradery, mental preparedness and success of a team.”

Metzger will be honored for his most recent generosity to the university on March 21, 2020 at the Hofstra-Rutgers men's lacrosse game at Shuart Stadium.

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published byTheme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.