Andrew McMinn Named Next Utah Lacrosse Head Coach
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan has announced the hiring of Andrew McMinn as the new men's lacrosse coach on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
"This is an exciting day for our lacrosse program, and for Utah Athletics, to introduce Andrew McMinn as our new head coach—a leader with a proven track record of building a successful program," Harlan said. "He has led championship teams and will be a tremendous asset as Utah Lacrosse enters its first season as an affiliate member of the ASUN Conference. His demeanor of calm confidence and his strong desire to lead the young men in our program stood out to us in our search, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Utah Athletics family."
McMinn is the second head coach in the program's history after lacrosse was added as an NCAA sport at Utah starting in 2018-19. McMinn will guide the Utes into their first season in the ASUN in 2021-22 after Utah became an affiliate member earlier this year.
"I am extremely grateful to become the next head coach of Utah Lacrosse," McMinn said. "I want to thank Mark Harlan and the search committee for giving me this incredible opportunity. It is extremely evident that the department is filled with extraordinary people and I can't wait to lead the program to be champions on and off the field."
McMinn comes to Salt Lake City after spending 10 seasons as the head coach at Robert Morris University, becoming the program's all-time coaching wins leader with 76. The two-time Northeast Conference Coach of the Year spent 15 overall seasons at RMU, which included five as an assistant coach, leading the program to two NEC tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths, and a regular season conference championship.
In his 10 seasons as head coach, the Colonials secured seven winning seasons, including five consecutive dating back to 2017. Since taking over as head coach in 2012, RMU has earned 54 All-NEC selections, six conference player of the year awards and five All-Americans, with 12 players landing roster spots in the National Lacrosse League after leaving Robert Morris.
Most recently, McMinn coached attacker R. Smith, who earned five different All-America nods in 2021. He was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, finished second nationally in goals per game (3.69) and fourth in points per game (5.46). He also broke or tied program records in career points, goals and games played, and single-season points, points per game and goals per game.
In 2018, McMinn led the Colonials to its first NEC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid, setting a school record for single-season wins (13). RMU kept the momentum going into 2019, becoming the second program in NEC history to win back-to-back conference tournament titles with another NCAA Tournament berth in the books.
McMinn won his second NEC Coach of the Year award in 2017 after seven players earned all-conference, with his first conference coach of the year award coming in his first season at the helm. In 2012, McMinn led the Colonials to a then program-record 11 wins in 15 games, winning the regular-season title.
Before joining RMU, the Pittsburgh, Pa., native was a standout goalkeeper for the Providence Friars. In three seasons at Providence, McMinn led the team to two regular-season titles, a MAAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
The three-time All-MAAC selection held the top two single-season goals against average in conference history at the time, also ranking among the top goalkeepers in Division I in both save percentage and goals against average.
He earned his bachelor's degree in management with a minor in finance from Providence in 2005. He completed his Master's degree in instructional leadership with a concentration in sport management from Robert Morris in 2014.