The Robert Morris University men’s lacrosse team announced today that they will be retiring jersey No. 43 in honor of the late Jack Toomb. The announcement was made by head coach Andrew McMinn on behalf of the entire men’s lacrosse program. A formal jersey retirement ceremony will be held in the 2021 season.
Forever in our hearts. Forever a part of RMU Lacrosse. 💙
#️⃣4️⃣3️⃣ will never be worn again.
📝: https://t.co/bp6RaxxBZI#RMUnite | 🔵🥍🔴 pic.twitter.com/NRAXAAignE
— RMU Men’s Lacrosse (@RMUMLacrosse) January 14, 2021
“Every day that Jack donned the number 43, he was a constant representative of what it means to be an RMU Lacrosse player. His positive energy was contagious and was never compromised,” McMinn said. “Regardless of the circumstances, Jack was going to have a smile on his face, give 100 percent, and not sweat the little things! He approached everything in life this way and it is a big reason why he will always be so loved. It’s extremely important to our program to continue to honor his legacy as a person and player in every way that we can. Retiring his number is just one of those ways, and we will continue to embody his spirit in everything we do.”
Toomb passed away on March 21, 2020, at the age of 23. He spent a full four seasons in the RMU men’s lacrosse program from 2016-2019 where he won two NEC championships with the team in 2018 and 2019.
A talented athlete and a great person overall, Toomb was a star player on the Colonials. As a long-stick midfielder and defender, Toomb was a three-time all NEC second-team player. He ranks third in RMU men’s lacrosse history in games played (65), fourth in ground balls (210), and fifth in ground balls per game (3.23).
Due to COVID-19, there will likely be limitations on the number of fans that will be able to attend upcoming lacrosse games. However, the team has made it clear that there will be a formal jersey retirement ceremony sometime during the 2021 season. As of now, RMU men’s lacrosse has yet to release an official schedule.
