Concordia University Irvine (D2 CA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

IRVINE, Calif. – In a span of less than a month, a second club sport at Concordia University Irvine received the green light to move up to the NCAA DII level starting with the 2023-24 school year. The CUI men's lacrosse program has been approved to be a NCAA-sponsored sport next season and will be joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) as an associate member.

The announcement comes just weeks after STUNT was approved to become a NCAA DII-sponsored sport in August of 2023 and scored a victory for female student-athletes across the country. With the addition of both men's lacrosse and STUNT as soon-to-be NCAA-recognized sports, this means that Concordia will now offer 21 NCAA sports. Even before these breakthroughs for men's lacrosse and STUNT, that number was already the most out of all NCAA DII West Region schools ranging from California to Hawaii and Alaska.

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Posted in: California,Conferences,Division II,MCLA

Midland University (NAIA NE) Adds Men's Lacrosse

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has announced the addition of Men's Lacrosse to their athletic department, marking the university's 32nd varsity program which continues their commitment to invest in the student experience. Men's lacrosse will begin recruiting for the 2019-2020 school year and compete as an affiliate member with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), along with the Midland Women's Lacrosse team.

 Midland University has experienced record growth over the last ten years and is recognized as Nebraska's fastest-growing college. Students are drawn to the institution's dynamic course offerings, scholarship opportunities, and inclusive community. Home to the largest athletic department in Nebraska, Midland boasts more than 850 student-athletes participating in now 32 varsity sports. 

"Midland University strives to be a leader in creating opportunities for students to pursue their passions and engage in learning experiences that go beyond the classroom. Men's lacrosse is a growing sport, and we are excited to offer this opportunity to our students while earning their degree," stated Jody Horner, Midland University President. Further bolstering the exciting new athletic program addition, Midland is pleased to announce T.J. Westfall as the Men's Lacrosse team's first head coach. Westfall comes to Midland University from Lincoln, Nebraska where he has been an integral part of the Lincoln Rampage lacrosse program since 2008, as a player during his prep days, later as an assistant coach. Westfall served as head coach from 2015-2017.

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Posted in: Division I,Division II,FIL,Florida,Illinois,International,MCLA,NAIA,Nebraska,Utah

Sunday Lax Links

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Posted in: Arizona,College,Division I,FIL,Georgia,High School,Hong Kong,Illinois,International,Legal,MCLA,New York,Ohio,Oregon,Pennsylvania,South Carolina,TV Coverage,Urban Growth,Youth

William Penn University (NAIA IA) Adds Men's and Women's Lacrosse

Oskaloosa--William Penn Athletics Director Nik Rule is excited to announce the addition of men's and women's lacrosse and men's volleyball to the list of intercollegiate sports the University offers. 

All three sports will begin competition in the 2019-2020 school year. They are the first sports to be added since men's and women's bowling back in 2009-2010; WPU has added or reinstated seven programs since joining the NAIA in 2001-2002.

 "We feel these three intercollegiate sports fit perfectly into our strategic plan for our University and the athletics department," Rule said. "They are quickly-emerging sports in the NAIA with several schools in our conference and our region sponsoring them. It is the perfect time to add them to our department and we have facilities that will immediately be able to accommodate each sport."

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Posted in: Conferences,Iowa,MCLA,MLL,Montana,NAIA,NLL,Oklahoma,Professional,Rules,Shot Clock,Social Media,TV Coverage

Monday Lax Links

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Posted in: College,Colorado,Florida,High School,MCLA,Minnesota,Nebraska,New York,NLL,Olympics,Professional,WPLL

Utah to Add Men's Lacrosse, Become's the Pac-12s First Varsity Program

SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah will begin sponsoring men's lacrosse as an NCAA sport starting in 2018-19, Utah director of athletics Chris Hill announced today. The University of Utah Board of Trustees approved the decision. The men's lacrosse team will continue to compete as a club sport in 2017-18. Men's lacrosse is the U.'s first completely new NCAA sport since women's soccer was added back in 1995. The Utes began fielding a beach volleyball team this past spring, drawing its members and coaches from the existing volleyball program.

With the addition of men's lacrosse, Utah will support 20 total NCAA sports—eight men's and 12 women's. "A lot of research and effort went into our decision to add men's lacrosse," said Hill. "With several great club sports expressing an interest in achieving NCAA status, a working committee was formed to determine the parameters for adding a new sport. Among the factors considered were the potential impact on our other teams, financial self sustainability, compliance with Title IX and popularity in our community. Men's lacrosse met those criteria.

It is the first endowed program for University of Utah athletics. Nowadays, adding sports at the college level almost always requires an endowment, which resonated with the University-appointed committee."

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Press Conference Transcript

Posted in: Conferences,Division I,MCLA,Utah

Sunday Lax Links

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Posted in: California,College,Division I,Facilities,High School,Illinois,Massachusetts,MCLA,New Jersey,Pennsylvania,Texas,Utah,Washington,Wheelchair Lacrosse

Illinois Tech (D3) Adds Men's Lacrosse

CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Tech Athletics is excited to announce the addition of a new varsity athletic program. Men’s lacrosse will join the Scarlet Hawk athletic lineup beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

 "Men's lacrosse will be a great addition to our athletic department profile at Illinois Tech,” said Joe Hakes, Director of Athletics. “The combination of a world class STEM school and a growing, exiting sport will be a draw for the student-athlete who is looking for the best of both worlds.” Illinois Tech expects to hire a Head Coach for the new program prior to the start of the 2017-18 school year.

The Scarlet Hawks will join a large group of NCAA Division III institution with men’s lacrosse sponsorships. As of this spring, 237 men’s lacrosse programs competed at the Division III level. “Our Stuart Field facility is a great place to play, and we look for the men's lacrosse program to grow quickly in both size and talent,” Hakes said. “We are beginning a national search to identify the right person to start this program and to recruit top quality students and top quality athletes into it."

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Posted in: Canada,Connecticut,Cut Sports,Division I,Division III,Equipment,Florida,Illinois,Maine,Massachusetts,MCLA,Minnesota,New York,NLL,Pennsylvania,Shot Clock,Virginia

Monday Lax Links

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Posted in: Concussions,Diversity,Division I,Equipment,Industry,Louisiana,MCLA,MLL,North Carolina,Professional,Social Media,Texas,TV Ratings,Utah

Eastern Mennonite University (D3 VA) Adds Women's Lacrosse

Eastern Mennonite University announces the addition of women's lacrosse to its athletic program. Director of Athletics Dave King says EMU will hire a head coach in the spring of 2017 to begin recruitment, with competition beginning first at the club level before moving into the Old Dominion Athletic Conference for the 2018-19 season.

"I'm thrilled that we will be able to provide more young people the opportunity to develop life skills through playing a collegiate sport," he said. "As we continue to understand what collegiate sports do for young people and the campus community, it's exciting to expand our sport offerings."

The search for EMU's first women's lacrosse coach will begin immediately, with a start date of June 1, he added.

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Posted in: Canada,Division III,Donors Choose,Florida,High School,MCLA,MLL,New York,Oregon,Professional,UWLX,Virginia

Tuesday Lax Links

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Friday Lax Links

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Posted in: College,Connecticut,Donors Choose,HBCU,High School,Maryland,MCLA,Urban Growth,Utah,Wisconsin

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Friday Lax Links

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Posted in: Arizona,Australia,College,Division III,High School,International,Iowa,MCLA,Nebraska,North Carolina,Pennsylvania,Texas,UWLX,Youth

Chowan University (DII NC) Adds Men's Lacrosse

MURFREESBORO- Chowan University continues to provide competitive athletic opportunities with the official addition of men's lacrosse for the 2016-17 academic year. The search for Chowan's first men's lacrosse coach concluded with the hiring of Jim Griffin, who eagerly accepted the challenge of implementing the Hawks' first recruiting class.

"I am very excited to begin men's lacrosse here at Chowan University. The academic programs,

facilities, and moral culture make this a homerun for men's lacrosse. The University sits in great proximity to lacrosse hotbeds in every direction….and will offer an ideal environment for student-athletes at the NCAA Division II level," Griffin stated. Vice President/Director of Athletics, Ozzie McFarland added, "I believe we have found the perfect person to start our men's lacrosse program…one who has already started two programs. Jim has strong ties to North Carolina…He will be an excellent addition to our staff and should help us meet our goal of being one of the best lacrosse programs in the region". "I look forward to contacting lacrosse players around the United States to tell them about this great institution and inviting them to part of something special here at Chowan," Griffin added.

With the addition of men's lacrosse, Chowan's athletic department supports 18 athletic teams with eight men's programs and ten women's programs as well as a co-ed cheerleading team.

Full Article

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Posted in: California,Division I,Division II,Graduation Rates,HBCU,MCLA,MLL,Nebraska,New Jersey,North Carolina,Participation,Urban Growth,US Lacrosse,Virginia,Washington,Youth

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Posted in: College,Colorado,Conferences,Division III,High School,Iowa,MCLA,New York,Tennessee,Texas,Urban Growth,US Lacrosse,Washington,Youth

Sunday Lax Links

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Posted in: Alabama,Connecticut,Cut Sports,Division I,Division II,England,High School,International,Massachusetts,MCLA,Michigan,NLL,Ohio,Participation,Youth

Sunday Lax Links

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Posted in: California,Coed Lacrosse,Conferences,Cut Sports,Division I,Division II,High School,MCLA,Oklahoma,Philippines,South Carolina,Urban Growth

Army Adds Women's Lacrosse

WEST POINT, N.Y.- The U.S. Military Academy at West Point announced it will add women's lacrosse to its NCAA athletics lineup beginning with the 2015-16 season on Monday morning.

 Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan, along with the West Point leadership team, approved the addition to its Division I athletics program, which currently sponsors 25 intercollegiate sports.

Beginning in 2015-16, women's lacrosse will become the 10th member of the Patriot League, which currently supports American, Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola and Navy's women's lacrosse programs. This announcement will elevate West Point from the competitive club level, from which it has competed since 1979, to varsity status.

Full Article

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Posted in: Diversity,Division I,Division II,Florida,Handicapped Players,Indiana,LXM,MCLA,MLL,New York,Professional,Season Length,Texas