BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University Director of Athletics Dr. Kristen Migliano announced the hiring of Brian Kingsbury as the inaugural head coach of the men’s lacrosse program on Wednesday afternoon. Kingsbury is tasked with building the Fighting Knights program from scratch and leading them into NCAA and Sunshine State Conference competition for the 2014 season.
The Severna Park, Md., native will assume responsibilities in February while recruitment will begin immediately. Kingsbury can be contacted at bkingsbury@lynn.edu.
“Lynn University is excited about Brian pioneering the lacrosse program,” stated Migliano, a former student-athlete on the inaugural women’s basketball team in 1993. “He is focused on building a reputable program that fits into the mission and vision of Lynn University. Brian also recognizes the attraction of prospective lacrosse student-athletes to compete for Lynn, as does the University recognize Brian’s ability to lead a competitive program.”
“Coach Kingsbury is a great fit to lead Lynn University because he is passionate about his sport and he is committed to a well-rounded student-athlete,” added Senior Vice President for Administration Greg Malfitano. “The entire University is excited about welcoming the community and future Lynn lacrosse fans to campus this time next year to support a high-quality NCAA Division II lacrosse team in a comfortable and fun game day environment.”
Kingsbury helmed Saint Michael’s College last season, leading the Purple Knights to one of their most successful seasons. Saint Michael’s set a school record for wins with an 11-5 record, earned a third-seed in the North East 10 Conference Tournament and reached a ranking of No. 9 in the nation. The NE-10 is one of the top lacrosse conferences in the country as league schools have won three men’s lacrosse national championships and finished as a runner-up six times since 1994.
"It is a great honor to be the inaugural head coach at Lynn University,” said Kingsbury. “With its rich winning tradition and athletic support, I am excited to build a reputable winning lacrosse program at Lynn. I would like to thank President Kevin Ross, Senior Vice President Greg Malifitano and Dr. Kristen Migliano for their time and extending the offer to represent Lynn University as their head men's lacrosse coach. It is great to see the support for this position from the President and Vice President to the Athletic Director.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity for lacrosse players who want to play in a sunny, warm climate year round and live three miles from the Atlantic Ocean and beach in Boca Raton, Florida. I look forward to recruiting competitive, good character players who want to earn a solid education, be involved in the community and win lacrosse games."
Not only the first head lacrosse coach at Lynn, Kingsbury will be the original NCAA lacrosse coach in South Florida. Coupled with a new facility slated to open in time for the inaugural season, the program has already achieved great milestones.
“We are excited to bring collegiate varsity lacrosse to South Florida,” added President Dr. Kevin M. Ross. “With the groundbreaking of Bobby Campbell Stadium this February and the exciting leadership of Brian Kingsbury, we look forward to building a strong and successful program.”
Bobby Campbell Stadium will be called home for the Fighting Knights, who will play under the lights and enjoy new locker rooms and an athletic training facility. Lynn begins competition in the spring of 2014 and will join Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Rollins, Saint Leo and Tampa in the newly sponsored sport of the SSC.
Kingsbury joined Saint Michael’s after a successful season as head coach of Castleton (Vt.) State College. He guided the NCAA Division III program to one of its finest ever, as the Spartans won the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Kingsbury was named the NAC's Coach of the Year in 2011, as he coached the league's Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and helped Castleton earn the conference's Sportsmanship Award.
Before taking the helm at Castleton, Kingsbury was an assistant coach for the Spartans' men's lacrosse program in 2009 and 2010. He aided with all aspects of the program during his time as an assistant coach, and helped Castleton earn its first NCAA Tournament berth in 2010. He joined Castleton after one season as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of Massachusetts, where he was primarily responsible for video editing, scouting and faceoff strategy.
Kingsbury was a three-year scholarship student-athlete at the University of Maryland following a transfer from Hofstra University, and graduated from Maryland 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in sports management. While at Maryland, the Terrapins made two appearances in the NCAA Division I Quarterfinals, and two appearances in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. He was named the men's lacrosse program's Unsung Hero as a senior in 2001, and also earned ACC honor roll accolades.
Kingsbury earned his Master's degree in education from Castleton in 2010, and was named to the Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society that same year.