Jordan Levine will serve as head coach for Israel Lacrosse at the 2027 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship.
In July 2027, 16 countries will send their best men’s lacrosse players to Japan to compete in the latest edition of the sport’s premier international invitational. The 2027 edition of the tournament features a new format – 16 teams from across the world will play in Division I, while 24 other nations duke it out for World Lacrosse’s Division II title. Israel will be in Division I thanks to its gold medal achievement at the 2025 European Lacrosse Championship.
Riding high from the program’s first major championship, Levine’s Blue-and-White have their eyes set on showing the rest of the world what they can do next.
Jordan Levine
Since 2022, Levine has led LIU men’s lacrosse as its head coach. The Long Island native has compiled a 35-22 overall record in his four seasons in charge of the Sharks and led the team to a second-place finish in the NEC last spring. Prior to LIU, Levine was head coach at Mercy College, where he took the program to the Division II national championship game in 2022 and amassed a 110-39 overall record in 10 campaigns.
A highly successful collegiate player at the University of Albany and professional in the MLL and NLL, Jordan Levine has been on Israel Lacrosse’s radar since 2018, ILA Executive Director Ian Kadish said. Back then, the association wanted him as a player. Now, it’s for his sideline skills, and this time, it all came together.
“He’s a pro in every sense of the word,” Kadish said. “He brings a ridiculous amount of experience and ability to Israel Lacrosse. He’s so hungry – when the opportunity came up, he jumped at it.”
It’s a chance at something special, Levine explained.
“It was very appealing to me to compete for Team Israel and Jews on a global level,” the coach said. “The ability to connect with and represent my Jewish heritage while coaching the game I love at the World Lacrosse Championship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Israel finished seventh at the 2023 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship in San Diego. The team went 4-0 in group play, defeated Ireland in the first round of the championship playoff bracket, then succumbed to the United States in the quarterfinals. A victory over Jamaica secured seventh place and a 6-1 final record at the event.
Levine’s goal for his team is to improve on that result, but his focus is more micro than macro.
“We would like to win a championship and medal, but that can’t be our focus,” he explained. “Our focus will be to work hard and as smart as possible. Small, incremental improvements each day. We will look to enjoy this opportunity – to represent your country on the international stage is special, and I truly believe that if you’re enjoying what you’re doing, you get better results.”
Coaching & Support Staff
John Svec will join Levine in Japan as his lead assistant.
The head lacrosse coach at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, New Jersey, Svec brings decades of high-level coaching and playing experience to the table. Prior to taking the Seton Hall Prep position, Svec spent 2018 to 2024 as Brown University’s defensive coordinator and 2011 to 2018 as the head coach at Siena College. He otherwise served as an assistant coach at Hobart College (2008-2011) and the University at Albany (2001-2008). On the field, Svec played in four NCAA tournaments at Loyola College and reached the national semifinals with the Greyhounds in 1998.
Svec and Levine have a long history. Svec was on the coaching staff at Albany when Levine was earning conference and national recognition for his play for the Great Danes. Now two decades on, they’re teaming back up to take on the world in Japan.
Additional coaches may be named, and a wider support staff for the tournament will be determined in the coming months.
2027 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship Information
The re-organization of the world’s top international men’s lacrosse competition will bring massive change to the 2027 version.
The 2023 tournament had 30 teams playing for the same crown. This time, only 16 will play for the highest honor, while 24 go against one another for a second-tier title.
Israel is one of 16 in contention for the Division I championship. Host nation Japan will also be there, as well as Italy, England, Ireland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Germany due to their finishes at the 2025 Men’s European Lacrosse Championship, and Australia, Philippines, and New Zealand based on their results at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The final five spots will be determined at the 2026 Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, Jamaica, in August.
Want to Represent Israel in Japan?
With the core of the coaching staff in place, work has begun on the formation of Israel’s roster for next summer’s championship.
“We’re already talking player pool and how to move the team forward,” Kadish said.
What sort of player is Levine seeking? Those of the canine variety.
“Dogs!” the coach exclaimed. “I want men who play with tremendous effort and passion. We will fill a balanced and competitive roster, but the desire to be great is paramount.”
With so many games in such a short span of time, Levine also noted the need for a well-conditioned team. It will take players who have plenty to give and no interest in holding back for Israel to reach its fullest potential in Japan.
“We will be disciplined, selfless, and tough,” he explained. “We will look to play a game that the ILA and everyone who watches us play can be proud of. A lot of our schemes will be dictated by personnel, but our core will remain the same.”
To register your interest, complete this form to remain up to date on the process. Evaluations will be held in both the United States and Israel.