Syracuse didn't have to go far to find its new men's head coach. selecting Hartwick head coach Ian McIntyre. The Englishman guided Hartwick to four 10-win seasons in seven seasons and an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
 
A 1996 Hartwick graduate, McIntyre compiled a 71-36-25 (.633) record in seven seasons at his alma mater. He had remarkable success in a difficult situation.

He took the Hartwick head coaching reigns in 2003 from the legendary Jim Lennox and led the Hawks to 15-2-1 overall record, the most wins for the program since 1993.

In January 2004, Hartwick trustees voted to drop men's soccer's Division I scholarship program and make it a Division III, like all other sports at the school except women's water polo, but campaign called Re-Ignite the Wick led to the reinstatement of the Division I program.

In 2008, there was a second move to make men's soccer a Division III program but the trustees did not act upon it.

Hartwick has a long history of success, having won the 1977 NCAA Division I title.

Its 23 NCAA Tournament appearances are in sharp contrast to Syracuse's record. The Orange's lone postseason bid came in 1984.