Is Michigan Lacrosse a varsity program?

No. Michigan Lacrosse is "varsity club" program.  In the fall of 2000, Michigan athletic director Bill Martin announced that two Michigan club sports, men's lacrosse and men's crew, would be the first varsity club programs elevated from regular club status.  This new status allowed the team many of the same benefits varsity teams at Michigan receive (but not all of the same benefits).  The lacrosse team is supported by both the Michigan athletic department and recreational sports department staffs and takes part in many athletic department activities.  The team benefits from the athletic department Nike contract, the largest of its kind in the nation.

As a varsity club team, we have very high expectations of our athletes, and they have high expectations of the program.  This is not typical club lacrosse.

Despite this increased support, the current financial situation at Michigan has not allowed the University to invest more funds into lacrosse.  Players pay dues to provide a portion of the budget, with most of the funding coming from fundraising and sponsorships. The team does not offer scholarships.

No.

Can the team help me get admitted to Michigan?

Usually no, but in some cases yes.  If you are an outstanding student who is very interested in the opportunities at Michigan, and the Michigan coaching staff decides to recruit you, there is the possibility of some help with admissions.  Understand that the Michigan staff can offer no guarantees of admission, and you must be academically qualified in the first place.  If you are interested in going to school here and playing here, fill out the recruiting questionnaire on this website.  That's the first step.

So why would someone want to play lacrosse at Michigan?

There are many good reasons to play at Michigan.

First, this is a great place to get a college education. The University of Michigan is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. There is no better combination of respected academics, top-ranked athletics and overall college atmosphere in the country. With the largest alumni body in the world, Michigan graduates have an amazing network of contacts wherever they go.

Second, Michigan Lacrosse provides a very competitive lacrosse experience, on a national scale, without the overwhelming pressure and time-commitment of big-time Division I varsity lacrosse. Our student-athletes are expected to dedicate themselves to the team, but they are given the time and latitude to focus on academics. Most turned down college varsity opportunities to come to school and play here for just that reason.  The atmosphere on this team is much like a top Division III program, with a healthy combination of athletics, academics and social life.

Third, Michigan Lacrosse is one of the most respected club programs in the country. Since its official start in 1965 (the team also competed for two seasons in 1940 and 1941) the team has never had a losing season. There is a tradition of excellence among all Michigan athletic teams, and the lacrosse team is no exception. The team competes at the highest levels of MCLA lacrosse year-in and year-out, and our players and coaches expect to have a shot at a conference and national championships every season.  We are here to win.

Who does the team play?

Michigan Lacrosse is a member of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, the largest lacrosse league in the world. The MCLA is made up of 203 teams in 9 conferences that represent virtually every region of the country. Michigan is a member of the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association, with 25 teams throughout the Midwest. Other conferences include the Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (Northeast), the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (Southeast), the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (Midwest), the Lonestar Alliance (Texas), the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League (Upper Midwest), the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (Rocky Mountains), the West Coast Lacrosse League (West Coast) and the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (Pacific Northwest). All of the programs in the MCLA are club teams that operate as "virtual varsities." They are coached, highly structured teams, many with large budgets, that compete on a national scale.

Michigan's regular season schedule usually includes many of the top MCLA programs from around the country.  Teams like Brigham Young, Colorado State, Colorado, California, Stanford, California-Santa Barbara, Sonoma State, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Texas and Florida are regularly on the schedule.  Traditional conference rivals like Michigan State are always big games.  In addition, the team often schedules one or two varsity opponents during the regular season.

In the fall, the team plays a number of scrimmage/tournament weekends, usually against varsity opponents. These games are used to judge talent during the fall tryout period.  Michigan has traditionally done very well against varsity competition.  Fall varsity opponents have included Penn State, Bucknell, Ohio State, Butler, Robert Morris, Le Moyne, Ohio Wesleyan, Wooster, Kenyon, Wittenberg, Wheeling Jesuit, Mercyhurst, Canisius, and others.  In the fall of 2007 the team hosted and played Army and defending NCAA Division 1 national champion Johns Hopkins.

The schedule highlights one of the benefits of playing top-level MCLA lacrosse.  Unlike varsity lacrosse teams that play mostly regional schedules, the top MCLA teams play national schedules that have them traveling to campuses across the country.  Michigan flies two or three times a season to play other big-name opponents, and hosts some of the top teams in the nation.

Is there a post-season tournament?

The CCLA tournament is usually the first weekend of May. The winner of the tournament, along with the champions of the 8 other conferences, gets an automatic bid to the MCLA national championship tournament in late May. Seven other at-large bids go to the highest ranked teams, that did not receive automatic bids, in the final regular-season poll.

Going into 2009, Michigan has won the CCLA title eight of the last ten years and has lost only two conference games since 1998.  The team is consistently ranked in the top 5 of the MCLA national poll and expects to make it to the national tournament every year.

Is every college club team in the country part of the MCLA?

No. Many club teams are unaffiliated with any national league, and about 80 others are part of the National Collegiate Lacrosse League (NCLL). The NCLL is a very successful league, focused primarily in the East and out as far as Ohio, that is geared towards more traditional, less structured club teams. While some NCLL teams are very talented, most are uncoached, and the league does not follow NCAA rules of play, nor do they have the strict eligibility requirements the MCLA follows (which are very similar to NCAA eligibilty rules).

The MCLA, on the other hand, has as its purpose to provide a virtual varsity experience for student-athletes at schools where there is no varsity lacrosse. In only its 12^th year, the MCLA has grown faster than its founders could have imagined. Many lacrosse players, coaches and fans are still learning about the vast differences between MCLA and NCLL or traditional club lacrosse.

The MCLA has a comprehensive website at www.mcla.us.  You can also go to www.collegelax.us for full coverage of the MCLA.  That site includes a very informative Frequently Asked Questions section.

Will there ever be varsity lacrosse at Michigan?

Yes.  With the phenomenal growth of lacrosse continuing at the youth and high school levels across the country, it surprises many that a school with the athletic reputation of Michigan doesn't have a varsity program, while Midwest schools like Ohio State and Notre Dame do. Obviously, a varsity program at Michigan would have incredible potential. Unfortunately, as schools scramble to reach compliance with Title IX, the federally mandated requirement to provide gender equity in athletics, men's varsity lacrosse is stuck at about 225 teams at the college level. While Michigan is leading the way among top-Division I universities toward gender equity, the addition of men's lacrosse would require the addition of at least one and possibly two similar women's teams (women's lacrosse?) at the same time. This would not be cheap. In an encouraging move, the Michigan Athletic Department added men's soccer in 2001 (along with women's water polo). This opens the door for men's lacrosse, but until the department makes a decision that adding another two sports is desirable and feasible, it won't happen.  The elevation of men's lacrosse to varsity club status, and the inclusion of lacrosse in the athletic department's long range facility plans, shows a commitment to the sport. 

The fastest way toward a full varsity team at Michigan is through major endowment level gifts that would fund the program.  The Michigan staff, alumni and boosters are working toward that goal now, but there is no firm date set for a varsity program yet.  It could happen very soon, or it could take years.

How does playing MCLA lacrosse at Michigan differ from playing NCAA lacrosse at other schools?

Our philosophy here at Michigan is that we want to do whatever it takes to compete at the highest level possible and represent the University in the best possible way. As such, we look and act like a varsity program on and off the field, and we require our student-athletes to work hard to achieve team and individual goals. In addition, every one of our players must follow MCLA rules and regulations regarding academic eligibility (see below).

As a varsity club team, however, we do not receive much financial support from the University. We have to do extensive fundraising to ensure that we can run the kind of program we do.  (Our annual budget is well over $500,000.) While we are fortunate to be able to use our indoor football facility for practice and games, we often have to make do with late practice times.

As a varsity club team with no scholarships to offer and a firm commitment to academic excellence, we don't expect our players to make the same kind of time commitment as top-level Division I varsity players do...but it is very close.  Practices from September through May, lifting and conditioning sessions, individual skill sessions and meetings and events are all mandatory.

While we expect all of our team members to be 100% committed to the team, we understand that academics come first.  Our philosophy is more in line with Division III lacrosse principles - a balance between academics and athletics.  That said, this is not a team for casual student-athletes.  It is a huge commitment, and it requires a lot of sacrifice. 

Just like our varsity counterparts here at Michigan, our student-athletes take great pride in representing their university and themselves in the best possible way.  They work very hard toward team and personal goals.  Playing lacrosse here is a big commitment and a tremendously valuable experience.

The move to varsity club status has given our student athletes many of the benefits afforded varsity athletes at Michigan.  Academic support is available through the Ross Academic Center when it is needed.  There are career training and job network opportunities.  Athletic training and weight training support, along with nutritional and leadership/team building support is also utilized.  In addition, the team is included in the athletic department's Adidas contract (the largest college contract of its kind in the nation).

All in all, we feel that playing varsity club lacrosse for Michigan offers the best of both worlds. We are more committed, involved and successful than 99% of the club teams in the nation, but we give just enough latitude to allow for academic success and a life outside of lacrosse.

Our athletes have fun together on and off the field.  They are a family.  If you ask Michigan Lacrosse alumni about their most treasured life experiences, most, if not all, will rank their time on this team at the top. In fact, many of them come back to Ann Arbor from around the country at least once each spring to get together and support the team, and to play in the annual alumni game, and many of them continue to support the team financially.

What facilities do you use?

The team practices and plays all of its home games in Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, a full-field indoor facility with a state-of-the-art FieldTurf surface.  Oosterbaan is heated in the winter and cooled in warmer weather, making it the perfect setting when the weather outside is especially bad.

Two new facilities are due to be completed in the summer of 2010.  The first is a new $20 million indoor facility, next to Oosterbaan, that will provide substantially more sideline space and a higher ceiling.  Once it is completed the Michigan lacrosse team will be the only one in the country with two full-field indoor facilities at its disposal.

The other project that is due for completion in 2010 is a $5 million renovation of Elbel Field, where Michigan hosted Johns Hopkins and Army.  The grass field, currently used by IM sports, will be converted to FieldTurf and lined just for men's lacrosse, competition-level lights will be installed, a new wrought-iron and brick fence and gates will be built around the field and bleachers for at least 2,000 will be installed.  For the first time Michigan will have a top-notch outdoor facility.

In the winter of 2009, across the street from Elbel in the Coliseum, the university built an athletic training room just for men's lacrosse where the team's trainers can evaluate and rehab our athletes whenever needed.

In addition, the team utilizes the weight rooms in the CCRB and the IMSRB and several other facilities around the athletic campus.  The next major project will be a team locker room and meeting space.  Fundraising for that project is underway.

How does the team develop its players?

We believe that the off-season is the most critical time for individual development.  We take the fall very seriously, beginning with tryouts, then going through a six week practice season that includes one or two scrimmage days against varsity competition, and finally wrapping up with six weeks of speed and agility training.  In addition, the team has a strength program and does some conditioning outside of practice.  We also take our players through extensive individual and small group sessions, once or twice a week for every player, to work on specific individual skill development.  We are committed to providing the resources to allow our players to develop into the best they can be.

In 11 years of MCLA play, the team has produced 45 MCLA All-Americans, including 14 1st-Team All-Americans.

In May of 2009 Michigan's Brekan Kohlitz became the first non-NCAA player drafted by a Major League Lacrosse team when he was selected by the Washington Bayhawks in the college draft.  His selection illustrates both the level of athlete on the team and the personal development the coaching staff provides.

What are games and travel like?

The team plays all of it's home games in Oosterbaan Fieldhouse on a state-of-the-art FieldTurf surface, which has proven to be a nearly perfect surface for lacrosse.  With paying crowds of 500-1000 (more than almost all varsity lacrosse teams get), cheerleaders, halftime entertainment and promotions, and occasional TV coverage.  Michigan lacrosse home games are exciting events.  The team has lost only three games at home in the past nine seasons, despite playing a national schedule against many of the top programs in the MCLA.  Part of that success can be attributed to the tremendous home field advantage Michigan lacrosse enjoys.

Home game days always start with a team meal at Cottage Inn Restaurant, where the team enjoys a buffet pre-game meal in a private room.

On the road the team travels either in charter buses or commercial flights.  We want to provide a safe, efficient travel atmosphere that minimizes missed class time and allows our student-athletes to focus on their studies and the game at hand.  The team always presents itself on the road in a manner befitting the University of Michigan - in official team attire, respectful and proud.  Michigan's vast alumni network often shows up on the road to support the team in distant cities, sometimes even providing local meals and events.

Road games vary according to who we are playing.  Very few MCLA teams provide the same level of home game support that we are used to in Ann Arbor.  The team travels to play its required conference schedule, plus key national games against highly ranked teams like UCSB, Brigham Young, Arizona and Colorado State.  More and more of our games are being televised every year, and many of them have turned into major events involving big crowds.

The regular season always ends with Michigan's biggest rival - Michigan State.  That game has become the biggest lacrosse event in the state of Michigan, now drawing over 5,000 fans and a live television audience.  The game is played at the football stadiums of regional high schools in order to better promote it to fans throughout the state.

The team always spends spring break in a warmer climate - practicing and competing.  Past trips have included Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Arizona, Utah and California.

What kind of coaching philosophy does the staff have?

Coach Paul brings 19 years of coaching experience (eleven as Michigan's head coach) to his job.  His staff of assistant coaches and he provide an opportunity to excel as a player and as person within a strong team atmosphere.

While personnel and changing trends in college lacrosse may change the specifics of what the team is running, a few things remain consistent.  Michigan lacrosse has always been known as a highly explosive offensive team, and that tradition will not change any time soon.  In the past three years the coaching staff has put a strong emphasis on coaching defensive technique and team philosophy, and as a result the team has established itself as one of the top defensive teams in the MCLA.  In addition, Michigan teams are known for being technically sound and frustratingly tenacious.  Nobody rides harder or hustles more.

The Michigan coaching philosophy is:  First, to promote a team atmosphere that fosters academic and athletic success at the highest levels within a supportive, "family" system.  Second, to provide the coaching and resources necessary to allow each individual player to reach his full potential.

Yes, although not in the same way that a varsity program does.  Our coaches get out to as many high school games and recruiting camps and tournaments as possible.  We host clinics and summer camps here in Ann Arbor.  We maintain contact with high school coaches around the country.  We are constantly getting the word out about our team.  The difference between our recruiting and a varsity team's recruiting is we do not go after potential players as aggressively as varsity teams do.  We want student-athletes who are: 1. academically qualified to attend Michigan, 2. athletically able to contribute at the college level, and 3. really want to come to Michigan.  To that end, we do not hard-sell anyone on coming here.  We want you to end up in the best situation for you - athletically, academically and socially.  If that situation is Michigan, we'll do everything in our power to help you realize your dreams.

Despite our limitations (no scholarships and limited admissions influence), we receive daily inquiries from many high school players who are interested in Michigan. About half of the team comes from the east coast with the other half coming from Michigan and other states. Most of our student-athletes turned down varsity opportunities at other schools in order to play and go to school here.  Athletically we are very similar to mid-level Division I program or a top-level Division II or III program.

Michigan lacrosse is always looking for quality lacrosse players and students who have the ability to compete at this level. If you are a high school senior or junior who is interested in attending Michigan, or you are planning a campus visit, we would be happy to show you our facilities and discuss the program and the University in detail with you and your parents. Contact Coach Paul through the Recruiting page on the team website or by phone (734-622-9942) if you are interested in Michigan.

Our schedule is broken into two components, fall and spring. The fall season consists of three practices a week and several scrimmages. We use the fall season as a tryout period. If you are interested in playing, please contact Coach Paul early with a call or e-mail for details. The fall season runs through early December and usually includes games against quality varsity opponents.  The first cut is one week into practice, and the final cut comes in October.  Recently, tryouts have become very competitive, with 80-100 attending in the first week.  36-40 spots are available every year.

Fall is crucial as the team gets to know incoming players, learns to work together, learns the system and conditions for a tough regular season. After the holiday break the team begins practicing four days per week as soon as everyone is back in Ann Arbor at the beginning of January.  Participation in Fall tryouts is absolutely necessary to join the team.

Can I join after my freshman year?

Yes, but it's more difficult.  With tryouts becoming increasingly competitive we are looking for players who will make a four year commitment to the team.  As a transfer or upperclassman looking to make the team, you would have to show tremendous potential to contribute.

We occasionally have freshmen who decide to wait a year before trying out in order to get acclimated to college life.  We usually counsel that this is a mistake.  First, it's harder to make the team as a sophomore.  Second, and more importantly, many freshmen, when faced with the overwhelming amount of free time suddenly available, develop bad study habits and other priorities.  Having the commitment of playing lacrosse (or participating in any serious endeavor) helps our student-athletes learn to prioritize and organize.

MCLA eligibility rules are based on NCAA rules, but slightly simplified. MCLA players have four years of eligibility in college lacrosse (club, MDIA or varsity). In order to play, you must carry at least 12 credit hours throughout the regular season. The only way you can carry less than 12 credit hours is if it is your final semester of school, and you are taking the courses you need to graduate.

Transfers from NCAA varsity programs do not need to sit out a year before they are eligible to play.

It costs us about $13,000 per player per year to run the team. Our total team budget is over $500,000 per year, depending on the size of the team and amount of travel. That budget is comparable to the top Division 1 teams in the nation.  When you consider that most of a varsity team's budget here at Michigan is made up of scholarship expenses and staff salary, our budget is actually bigger than many of the varsity teams here. The University only provides about $20,000 toward our program. We come up with the rest through fundraising, corporate partnerships, gate receipts and dues.

Michigan Lacrosse dues are $3,500 per player. Our dues are higher than most club teams, but in the long run we charge less than many. Most teams charge lower dues, then charge you again for the cost of each team trip, uniforms, or other costs as they come up. In our case, everything, including equipment (through our generous sponsors: Adidas, Riddell and Warrior), coaching, travel and operational expenses, is covered.

While the expense may sound excessive at first, consider this: 1. Our dues essentially equal the cost of four or five summer lacrosse camps totaling 20 days or so, but they cover a year-round lacrosse experience of a lifetime.  2. Many varsity programs also count on dues and fundraising to cover their budgets.  We are not that different.

Since the team spends an additional $9,000 or more, above and beyond dues, per player, fundraising efforts are critical. The team participates in some fundraising throughout the year, but most is done by the coach with the help of the the Booster Club and Alumni Committee. In addition, the team depends on the generous support of sponsors.

Dues are the lifeblood of this team, but we have a philosophy here that money issues should never keep anyone from playing. If you and your family have a real problem affording dues, we can always work something out to make sure you have an opportunity.

Did you just say sponsors?  What kind of gear will I be using?

We are very fortunate to be sponsored by Adidas, Warrior and Riddell.  Our players receive the same Adidas custom apparel that Michigan football players and every other varsity athlete receive.  We wear Adidas shoes, and we wear Adidas uniforms.  We are slowly making the switch over to Adidas equipment as it evolves, but our longtime equipment partner is Warrior.  Their offices and warehouse are less than an hour away.  All equipment is provided.  In addition, Michigan was the first college team to wear Riddell lacrosse helmets.  You may have seen the Michigan helmet featured in Riddell advertising in lacrosse magazines and game programs.  Our Riddell helmets are painted at the factory with the same "winged" design that has been made so famous by the Michigan football team.

Playing lacrosse at Michigan is a big commitment. This is not club lacrosse.  Three evenings of practice per week in the fall plus occasional early morning conditioning and three strength training sessions a week, and four nights per week during winter semester accounts for a big chunk of time. The season runs from late February through late May (after school ends). In-season the team spends several weekends on the road and the entire spring break away. Tournament schedules can force our seniors to miss graduation ceremonies, and everyone has to stay in Ann Arbor two weeks into spring term in the event the team makes the national championship tournament. It's tough and it's a lot of very hard work, but it's worth it.

The goals we set at Michigan are high. You wouldn't be attending or considering Michigan if your goals were not equally high. In order to have a chance to achieve our goals, we demand a commitment from our players. We expect people to show up to meetings, practices and games on time and ready to devote 100% of their energy to lacrosse. We've found that lacrosse forces students to become more organized and learn to prioritize rather than procrastinate. Many of our student-athletes combine lacrosse with demanding courses of study like engineering or business. Even so, our team GPA every year is well above a 3.0, often as high as 3.4. The time commitment of lacrosse, and a peer group of equally motivated student-athletes, actually helps most in achieving their other goals.

If you are looking for an opportunity to be a part of something special, to continue or start your lacrosse career at a highly competitive level, to win for Michigan! then come out for what could possibly be the best experience of your life.

Singing "The Victors" after a big win.