Emmer grew up in Mineola, New York and attended Rutgers University, where he played football as a wide receiver and lacrosse as a defenseman.
[1] He was voted most valuable player by his teammates and made an appearance in the North-South Senior All-Star Game upon the end of his college career in 1967.
[6] In the 1975 NCAA tournament, Washington and Lee beat Hopkins, 11–7, at Homewood Field to end the Blue Jays' 27-game home winning streak.
At West Point, he led the Black Knights to eight NCAA tournament appearances, which set a school record for a head coach.
[7] In 2002, he coached an all-star collegiate United States national team to the gold medal in the World Lacrosse Championship in Perth, Australia.
[1] He has also been inducted into the Charlottesville, Hudson Valley, and Long Island Metro Area US Lacrosse chapters Halls of Fame.