Craig McDonald was named head coach of the Robert Morris University (RMU) Men’s Lacrosse program on September 20, 2021. Now in his fourth season, McDonald has guided the Colonials to consistent success, including an impressive return to the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2025, capturing the regular season title with a 6-1 record, the tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
In the first year back in the NEC, McDonald had a program record 10 players make the All-Conference teams including NEC Player of the Year Bo Columbus and NEC Offensive Player of the Year David Burr. The Colonials also tied its second longest winning streak, ripping off six consecutive victories from March 15 to April 19. Additionaly RMU went a perfect 7-0 at home, marking the most wins in a season at Joe Walton Stadium since 2009.
McDonald made an immediate impact in his debut season, leading RMU to the 2022 ASUN Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. The Colonials posted a 10-6 record, finishing second in the league (4-1), before defeating Air Force in the semifinals and clinching the title with a thrilling 18-17 overtime victory. The 2022 campaign marked just the fourth time in program history that RMU reached double-digit wins.
Seven players earned ASUN All-Conference honors that season, including Midfielder of the Year Jake Boudreau.
In 2023, McDonald led RMU to an 8-8 overall record and a return to the ASUN Championship, highlighted by a first-round win over Jacksonville. Three Colonials were named to the ASUN All-Conference team, and James Christoforatos made history as RMU Lacrosse’s first-ever College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American.
During the 2024 season, McDonald again steered RMU to the ASUN Championship, marking the program’s third consecutive appearance and placing it among just four programs to achieve that consistency. Six Colonials earned All-Conference honors, including a league-high three players named to the All-Freshman Team.
Before joining RMU, McDonald spent seven seasons at UMass, serving as an assistant coach and later as associate head coach. As the Minutemen’s defensive coordinator, he also oversaw goaltenders, faceoffs, and recruiting. Under his leadership, UMass reached three Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship games, won the 2018 CAA title, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
His 2019 UMass defense ranked third nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 8.87 goals per game. That unit featured First Team All-Americans Isaac Paparo and Sean Sconone. Sconone was named 2019 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, while Paparo earned USILA Scholar All-America honors. Over his tenure, McDonald coached a Tewaaraton Award nominee, two Academic All-Americans, eight All-Americans, and 35 All-CAA honorees.
McDonald also held assistant coaching roles at Rutgers (2011–14), Siena (2010–11), and Union College (2008–10), where he began his collegiate coaching career.
A 2008 graduate of the University at Albany, McDonald earned a B.A. in sociology with a minor in education. He was a four-year letterwinner on defense for the Great Danes, helping them reach the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2007. He was a three-time All-America East selection, earning First Team honors in 2007 and 2008.
Under McDonald’s leadership, RMU has developed a strong pipeline to the professional ranks, with nine Colonials moving on to play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
A native of Geneva, N.Y., McDonald resides in the Pittsburgh area with his wife, Maggie, their two sons, Conor and Cian and daughter Scotland.
