We’re deep in the depths of the NAIA lacrosse offseason with several months still standing between us and the first faceoff of the coming campaign, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t news to share.
Here’s a roundup of the offseason news from across NAIA lacrosse so far this summer:
NAIA Lacrosse Offseason News Update
The King of NAIA Steps Down
John Snow, the long-time head coach of Reinhardt men’s lacrosse, stepped down in early July to take over Coker men’s lacrosse, which plays NCAA Division II. Snow led Reinhardt to four NAIA championships and was named NAIA Coach of the Year three times. He amassed a record of 66-3 during his Reinhardt dynasty.
This loss is huge in Reinhardt’s quest to defend the fourth-straight title it won in 2021, but it also presents a great opportunity for the next coach to step into an already-winning NAIA program.
Keiser Joins the AAC
Keiser University announced it will join the AAC for lacrosse effectively immediately this upcoming 2022 season, which is pretty big NAIA news. This now gives the AAC three of last year’s four national semifinalist teams.
Moving to the AAC should benefit Keiser. The program was previously independent, and it made finding fellow NAIA opponents a struggle, especially last year with most leagues playing conference-only games down the stretch because of COVID-19 concerns.
New Programs on the Way
New programs entering the fold are a standard part of the NAIA lacrosse offseason news cycle. This summer, we know of three schools that the NAIA is planning to add in men’s lacrosse over the next two years.
Thomas More University (KY) will be adding a men’s club team in 2022 and transitioning to full-time NAIA play in 2023. It recently hired its inaugural head coach, Sean McGinnis, whose resume includes an Ohio high school state title in 2017.
The University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (MO) will be adding men’s and women’s lacrosse in the fall of 2022 and has just begun its coaching search, and Multnomah University (OR) is set to start play in this upcoming season as well.
Coaching Carousel on Overdrive
This has been as wild an offseason for coaching changes in NAIA lacrosse history as I can remember. Currently, three former tournaments teams – Reinhardt, Missouri Baptist, and Madonna – are without head coaches, and plenty of others have new coaches running the show.
Here is a brief breakdown of the coaching moves and openings in the NAIA:
Reinhardt: Open
Madonna: Open
Missouri Baptist: Open
Aquinas: Hired Chris Klaiber as head coach
Siena Heights: Hired Spencer Macek as head coach
Montreat: Hired Keith Lohmuller as head coach
St. Andrews: Open full-time assistant job
Columbia College: Open GA job
Taylor University: Open part-time assistant job
Point University: Status of program uncertain (rumored to have a new coach)
