CNU To Add Men's Lacrosse In 2007, Swanenburg named first Head Coach

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport University will begin play in men's lacrosse in the spring of 2007. CNU Director of Athletics C.J. Woollum made the announcement today, and also named Chris Swanenburg head coach of the start-up program.

“We are very excited about the addition of men's lacrosse to our athletic department,” Woollum said. “We have completed a nationwide search for this important hiring, and are very pleased that Chris Swanenburg has agreed to take the reins of the program. We're confident that Chris will build a winning program in a very short period of time.”

Swanenburg will come to Christopher Newport from Marymount University in Arlington, VA, where he has been the men's lacrosse coach since 2002. He will begin the duties of organizing and implementing the program in mid-November.

“I am extremely excited about coaching at a university where there is such a tradition of excellence and desire to excel,” Swanenburg said. “If I were to describe a dream job, this would be it.”

A native of Monkton, Md., Swanenburg is a 1990 graduate of Yale University, where he earned All-Ivy and All-New England honors as a goalie. During his career, the Bulldogs won three consecutive Ivy League titles and appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments, advancing to the Final Four his senior season. He finished his Yale career having recorded the third highest single-season save percentage in school history and ranks among the school's all-time leaders in career saves and save percentage.  

Following graduation, Swanenburg began his coaching career in the Capital Athletic Conference as an assistant at Goucher College. He played an instrumental role in developing the Gophers' club program to Division III status.  

In 1993, Swanenburg was named head lacrosse coach at Radford University. He headed the Radford program until 2000, and is the school's all-time winningest coach. He is also the only coach to lead that program to a winning season at the Division I level.  

Swanenburg and his wife Amy, also a native of Maryland, are the parents of two children, Alexandra and Matthew.