:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50047107/GettyImages-173186616.0.jpg)
After the news broke that Lars Tiffany would be the next head men’s lacrosse coach at UVA, the biggest question for Virginia lacrosse fans was whether Tiffany would bring his high-caliber assistants with him from Brown and what would become of Marc Van Arsdale. A busy first week of July has given us all the answers.
Confirmed that Brown offensive coordinator Sean Kirwan will join Lars Tiffany at @UVAMensLacrosse. Things shaping up well for the 'Hoos.
— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) July 1, 2016
Brown assistant Kip Turner has joined the staff at @UVAMensLacrosse, confirming in a text. Won a NCAA title with the Wahoos back in 2006.
— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) July 6, 2016
Kirwan orchestrated the nation’s top offense for Tiffany’s Brown team. The Bears averaged more than 16 goals a game, three goals better than the next best program in Division I. Attackman Dylan Molloy won the Tewaaraton in 2016, and he and teammate Kylor Bellistri each scored more than 60 goals. Virginia’s offense in 2016 averaged only 10 goals per game, and the Hoos’ leading goal scorer—James Pannell—finished the season with 33 goals.
Turner was the goalie and face-off coach under Tiffany in Providence. Bears goalie Jack Kelly was named first-team All-America by USILA and Nike after the 2016 season, posting the nation’s best save percentage (.607). FOGO Will Gural was second-team All-America and was second nationally in face-off win percentage (.699). UVA was 15th in face-off win percentage in 2016, and goalie Matt Barrett was 48th nationally in save percentage.
Adding Kirwan and Turner left no room at the inn for long-time Starsia assistant Marc Van Arsdale, who STL reported earlier this summer would have job security through summer of 2017. According to Inside Lacrosse, Van Arsdale has taken a coaching position with Loyola.