Neal Powless facts for kids
Neal Powless (born October 27, 1974) is a talented Iroquois lacrosse player. He comes from the Eel Clan of the Onondaga Nation, which is near Syracuse, New York. Neal is the son of Chief Irving Powless Jr. and has two brothers, Barry and Bradley Powless.
Neal studied psychology at Nazareth College and later earned a master’s degree in counseling from Syracuse University in 2008. He is also working towards his Ph.D. at Syracuse's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Since 2019, he has served as the University ombuds at Syracuse University, helping people resolve issues.
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A Lacrosse Star's Journey
Playing Lacrosse: A Champion's Path
Neal Powless was an amazing field lacrosse player at Nazareth College. He was named an All-American three times, which means he was one of the best players in the country. He also played for the Iroquois Nationals in the World Lacrosse Championships in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006.
Beyond college, Neal played for several professional box lacrosse teams. These included the Six Nations Chiefs in the Ontario Lacrosse Association. In 1997, he played for the Rochester Knighthawks in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. That year, his team won their very first championship title!
Coaching and Sharing the Game
Neal Powless continues to be a big part of the lacrosse world through coaching. He coaches box lacrosse teams and travels across the United States. During these trips, he leads camps to teach young players about field lacrosse.
Since 2017, Powless has been coaching the Dutch Box Lacrosse program. He led them in their first European Championships. At the 2019 World Lacrosse Men's Indoor World Championship, the Dutch team finished in 8th place. This was a great achievement, as they were ranked 17th before the tournament began.
Awards and Recognition
Hall of Fame Inductions
Neal Powless has received many honors for his contributions to lacrosse. He was inducted into the Nazareth College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2017, he joined the US Lacrosse, CNY Chapter Hall of Fame. More recently, in 2022, he was honored by the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF). He was also inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.
Beyond the Field: Movie Production
Neal Powless also worked as a producer for the lacrosse movie called Crooked Arrows. This shows his dedication to the sport, both on and off the field.
