DU LACROSSE PROGRAM HISTORY & RECORDS

EARLY YEARS

Early Club Years (1966–1969):

  • 1966: 4–6 Record | The Denver men’s lacrosse program is founded as a club team by DU Hall of Famers Charles Dean and Harry Beaver III with Marty Robbins as the Head Coach.

  • 1967: 5–4 Record | Pete Richardson took over as head coach.

  • 1968: 8–3 Record | Jay Sweeney became head coach, leading the transition from club (1968) to varsity (1969).

  • 1969: 8–3 Record | Coach: Jay Sweeney

Varsity Era Begins (1970–1971):

  • 1970: 10–2 Record | Coach: Jay Sweeney

  • 1971: 9–4 Record | Coaches: Jon Case

Club Team with Sweeney & Tenney (1972–1976):

  • 1972: 3–5 | Coach: Jay Sweeney

  • 1973: 5–1 | Coach: Jay Sweeney

  • 1974: 12–5 | Coach: Tim Tenney

  • 1975: 5–6 | Coach: Tim Tenney

  • 1976: 8–12 | Coach: Tim Tenney

Rentz, Tenney, and Transitional Leadership (1977–1979):

  • 1977: 11–11 Record | Coach: George Rentz

  • 1978: 11–4 Record | Coach: Alvin Haglund

  • 1979: 14–11 Record | Coach: George Rentz

Rifkin & Strasburger Years (1980–1982):

  • 1980: 4–9 Record | Coach: Bruce Rifkin

  • 1981: 7–11 Record | Coach: Bruce Rifkin

  • 1982: 9–9 Record | Coach: Art Strasberger

  • 1983: 9–4 Record | Coach: Art Strasberger

1984-1989:

  • 1984: 1–14 Record

  • 1985: 2–10 Record

  • 1986: 6–8 Record

  • 1987: 10–4 Record

  • 1988: 6–4 Record

  • 1989: 5–6 Record

Bock, Donnelly, Croft Era (1990-1995):

  • 1990: 5–6 Record | Coach: Jon Bock

  • 1991: 6–5 Record | Coach: Jon Bock

  • 1992: 3–11 Record | Coach: Judd Donnelly

  • 1993: 9–7 Record | Coach: Judd Donnelly

  • 1994: 6–8 Record | Coach: Judd Donnelly

  • 1995: 8–5 Record | Coach: David Croft

Brion Salazar Years (1996-1998):

  • 1996: 9–6 Record | Coach: Brion Salazar

  • 1997: 4–6 Record | Coach: Brion Salazar

  • 1998: 4–8 Record | Coach: Brion Salazar

DENVER GOES D1

DENVER GOES D1 (1999):

  • Denver officially becomes a full Division I member in the Great Western Lacrosse League under the direction of head coach Jamie Munro.

THE GWLL YEARS (1999-2009):

  • Four GWLL Championship Titles: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008

  • Two NCAA Postseason Appearances: 2006, 2008

  • Jamie Munro: Finished with a 90-70 Record and was GWLL Coach of the Year in 2000 & 2006

Year-By-Year Results:

  • 1999: 4–8 (GWLL) | First Division I season under Jamie Munro.

  • 2000: 10–6 | Breakthrough winning season.

  • 2001: 6–7 | Competitive conference play.

  • 2002: 6–8 | Learning curve in GWLL.

  • 2003: 9–5 | GWLL champions, program milestone.

  • 2004: 8–6 | Continued progress.

  • 2005: 9–7 | Strong GWLL showing.

  • 2006: 12–5 | First NCAA Tournament appearance.

  • 2007: 11–5 | Another double-digit win season.

  • 2008: 10–7 | Second NCAA Tournament berth.

  • 2009: 9–7 | End of Munro era.

All-Americans:

  • 1999 — Mike Law, Attack (Honorable Mention)

  • 2000 — Mike Law, Attack (Third Team)

  • 2001 — Mike Law, Attack (Second Team)

  • 2005 — Matt Brown, Attack (Honorable Mention); Scott Davidson, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2006 — Geoff Snider, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2008 — Jamie Lincoln, Attack (Honorable Mention)

  • 2009 — Jamie Lincoln, Attack (Honorable Mention)

TIERNEY GOES WEST

BILL TIERNEY HEADS WEST (2009-2023):

  • US Lacrosse Hall of Famer Bill Tierney named Denver’s second Division I head coach following the season.

  • Tierney was previously the coach at Princeton for 22 years, earning 6 NCAA championships in 9 years, appearing in 8 championship games, 9 Final Fours and 11 Ivy League championships.

Year-By-Year Results:

  • 2010: 12–5 | Tierney’s debut, NCAA berth.

  • 2011: 15–3 | First Final Four appearance.

  • 2012: 9–7 | Quarterfinal run.

  • 2013: 14–5 | Final Four.

  • 2014: 16–6 | Final Four.

  • 2015: 17–2 | NCAA Champions — beat Maryland 10–5 in title game.

  • 2016: 13–4 | NCAA Quarterfinals.

  • 2017: 13–4 | Final Four, lost to Maryland in semis.

  • 2018: 13–5 | NCAA Quarterfinals.

  • 2019: 10–5 | BIG EAST contention.

  • 2020: 4–2 | Season halted by COVID-19.

  • 2021: 12–5 | NCAA First Round.

  • 2022: 9–6 | BIG EAST semifinals.

  • 2023: 10–5 | Tierney’s final season.

All-Americans:

  • 2010 — Cameron Flint, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Mark Matthews, Attack (Honorable Mention)

  • 2011 — Mark Matthews, Attack (Second Team); Jeremy Noble, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Cameron Flint, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2012 — Mark Matthews, Attack (Second Team); Jeremy Noble, Midfield (Third Team); Chase Carraro, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2013 — Eric Law, Attack (Second Team); Wesley Berg, Attack (Third Team); Jeremy Noble, Midfield (Third Team); Cameron Flint, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2014 — Wesley Berg, Attack (Second Team); Jeremy Noble, Midfield (Third Team); Eric Adamson, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2015 — Wesley Berg, Attack (First Team); Trevor Baptiste, FO (First Team); Connor Cannizzaro, Attack (Third Team); Zach Miller, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Sean Cannizzaro, Attack (Honorable Mention)

  • 2016 — Trevor Baptiste, FO (First Team); Connor Cannizzaro, Attack (Second Team); Zach Miller, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2017 — Trevor Baptiste, FO (First Team); Connor Cannizzaro, Attack (Second Team); Danny Logan, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Ethan Walker, Attack (Honorable Mention)

  • 2018 — Trevor Baptiste, FO (First Team); Danny Logan, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Colin Squires, Defense (Honorable Mention)

  • 2019 — Danny Logan, Midfield (Third Team); Colin Squires, Defense (Honorable Mention)

  • 2020 — (Season shortened by COVID; no official USILA teams named)

  • 2021 — Ethan Walker, Attack (Third Team); Jack Hannah, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Colin Squires, Defense (Honorable Mention)

  • 2022 — Jack Hannah, Midfield (Honorable Mention); Alex Simmons, Midfield (Honorable Mention)

  • 2023 — JJ Sillstrop, Attack (Honorable Mention); Alec Stathakis, FO (Honorable Mention)

THE MATT BROWN ERA

Matt Brown is Named the Next Head Coach:

  • University of Denver Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo named long-time associate head coach and Pioneer alum Matt Brown the next William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach following Bill Tierney's retirement at the end of the 2023 men's lacrosse season.

Year-By-Year Results:

  • 2024: 13–4 | Returned to Final Four.

  • 2025: 7–7 | Young roster, building under Brown.

All-Americans:

  • 2024 — Alec Stathakis, FO (Second Team); Jimmy Freehill, Attack (Second Team); AJ Mercurio, LSM (Third Team); Casey Wilson, Defense (Honorable Mention)

  • 2025 — Casey Wilson, Defense (Second Team); Jimmy Freehill, Attack (Third Team); Mic Kelly, Midfield (Third Team); Mic Kelly, Jimmy Freehill, Casey Wilson (USILA Honorable Mention)