PETER PRINCIPLE: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse head coach Peter Stanton surveys the action in a game last spring. Earlier this month, Stanton was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Stanton has led PHS to 219 wins, two Mercer County Tournament championships, and six Colonial Valley Conference titles in his 19 seasons at the helm. For Stanton, a focus on building team chemistry has been a key ingredient in the program’s success. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Peter Stanton didn’t enjoy much success in his first two years as the head coach of the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team.

Taking over the program in 1996, he guided the PHS to a 1-14 record. A year later, things weren’t much better as the Little Tigers posted a 2-13 mark.

But Stanton could sense that the program was turning a corner in that second campaign.

“Sometimes I tell people that I feel like I did my best coaching in 1997,” said Stanton.

“For some reason, that was the year with a combination of kids where I started to feel that we are going to get good at this. Everyone bought in. We kept the kids together; they had the feeling that we were going to achieve things.”

Staying the course, Stanton has gone on to achieve great things for PHS, leading the program to 219 wins, two Mercer County Tournament championships, and six Colonial Valley Conference titles. His teams reached the Group 2 semifinals in 2006 and 2007 and the Group 2 state title game in 2010.

Earlier this month, Stanton, 48, earned the ultimate achievement, getting inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

In reflecting on the accolade, Stanton said it is the bonds developed among the players that has been a key ingredient in his program’s success.

“What stands out most to me is the chemistry that we have had and you see guys that are still close eight, nine years out of high school,” said Stanton.

“They are still part of each other’s lives well after college. We have really worked hard to build that chemistry. It is a priority of the coaches. I think it comes down to two things, first is performance. You play better if you get along and hold each other accountable. When you enjoy each other’s company and play for each other, it is a lot more fun.”

Stanton has enjoyed lacrosse since 1982 when he took the sport up as a sophomore at Hunterdon Central High School, having tired of football and baseball.

“I liked the combination of physical contact and the gracefulness of the game,” said Stanton, who played midfield in high school, starting on varsity as a senior.

Continuing his playing career at the college level, Stanton headed to Stevens Tech, where he was a two-time Knickerbocker Conference second-team selection, the team MVP in 1987, and the team captain in 1988.

Stanton’s first taste of coaching came when he guided the PHS junior varsity team from 1992-94. After a year hiatus from coaching, he took the reins of the varsity program.

The Little Tigers experienced a breakthrough campaign in 1998, going 9-4 and making the state tournament. Two years later, PHS had one of the great seasons in program history, going 17-1, falling to eventual champion Delbarton in the state quarterfinals.

PHS earned Mercer County Tournament championships the last two years, displaying a competitive fire that has made Stanton proud.

“When you have a team that overachieves, nothing is better than that,” said Stanton.

“We were not necessarily the most talented team but we played the best at the most important moments and that is very satisfying.”

An important factor in Stanton’s success has been the contributions he has received from his coaching staff over the years.

“I have had great assistant coaches; they have really helped with team building,” said Stanton.

“So many of the best ideas came from Jason Carter. Chip Casto has such a wealth of knowledge. He is learning more and more about the game and finds ways to help us do things more efficiently. He is such a professional. When you have someone like that doing so much work, it makes my life easier. I get the credit but he is a big part of it.”

In accepting his Hall of Fame honor, Stanton was quick to spread the credit.

“What it really means is that I have been part of a really good thing for a long time,” said Stanton.

“I have had great people, great teams, great players. We have had phenomenal parental organizations. I have been fortunate to have been in a great situation.”

With the 2015 season around the corner, Stanton is fired up for another good campaign.

“This is the real reward and the reason I keep doing this,” said Stanton, a math teacher at PHS since 2004.

“Coaching is something that is always going to be very important to me. As a season comes up, you think it is a lot of work and a lot of effort. Part of me wonders if I can still do it but midway through the season, I can’t believe I was thinking that.”