Moon Township, Pa. – The University of Utah announced the hiring of Andrew McMinn on Tuesday as head men's lacrosse coach.
"After spending my entire professional career at RMU, moving on is going to be extremely difficult," said McMinn. I feel extremely grateful to have been surrounded by such amazing people during my time here, and the relationships have meant the most to me throughout the years. I will forever cherish the bond with each player and family that has been formed throughout my time here."
McMinn is just one of two head coaches to lead the RMU men's lacrosse program, and has been on the coaching staff in all but one of the 17 seasons that the program has existed. Elevated to head coach on Sept. 21, 2011, he led the Colonials to a school-record 76 victories in 10 years, consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament championships and subsequent NCAA Tournament berths in 2018 and 2019, and the 2012 NEC regular-season title. McMinn was twice named NEC Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2017.
"We thank Coach McMinn for his sixteen years of dedication and service to RMU," said RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King. "He has been a wonderful representative of our university and a lasting impact on the lives of past and current student-athletes. He has produced champions on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community, and has always done so with the utmost class and integrity.
"Coach McMinn leaves as the winningest head coach in program history, but he has meant so much more to this program than just wins on the scoreboard. He has been a tremendous ambassador for this university and the men's lacrosse program, and for that, we will all be forever grateful to him."
During his head coaching tenure, McMinn saw five student-athletes earn All-America accolades and seven collect Scholar All-America plaudits. Six players garnered major postseason awards from the NEC, and nine participated in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Senior All-Star Game. McMinn himself coached in the 2018 and 2021 editions of the event.
McMinn coached 25 of the 26 former Colonials who have embarked on a professional lacrosse career, and in 2020, he saw RMU own the highest representation of any school or university in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with 11 players. On Sept. 17, 2019, alumnus Tyson Gibson was selected with the first overall pick by the New York Riptide in the NLL Entry Draft, and following the 2020 version, RMU became the only school to boast two first-round picks in consecutive drafts with the selections of Ryan Smith and Brad McCulley.
A 2005 graduate from Providence College, McMinn was a three-time All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) selection for the Friars at goalkeeper, and helped lead the team to two MAAC regular-season titles, a MAAC Tournament championship, and a berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. He later completed his Master's degree in instructional leadership with a concentration in sport management from RMU in 2014.
RMU will begin a national search to identify its next head men's lacrosse coach.
"This program has always been much bigger than any coach or player, and I am extremely confident that it will continue to thrive for years to come," said McMinn. "RMU lacrosse has truly been a second family to not only myself, but my wife and children, and my time here will always carry with us as we move onto another chapter. Thank you to each and every person who has made this program so special!"
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