The University of Utah men’s lacrosse team announced Wednesday that longtime North Carolina assistant Brian Holman has been hired as the Utes’ head coach, effective immediately.
The move is in conjunction with the program hoping to join men’s lacrosse at the Division I level, a team press release said. A nonsanctioned sport, the Utes currently compete at the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association D-I level.
According to a tweet from the Utah Athletics department Tuesday, there is not a plan for the school to add lacrosse as an NCAA sport at this time.
The Tar Heels won the 2016 NCAA Division I national championship, defeating Maryland 14-13 in the title game.
"I'd like to thank Joe Breschi for allowing me be a part of the Carolina lacrosse family," Holman said in the team press release. "Honestly, it was one of the greatest experiences in my life. It was an honor to coach at such a great institution and coaching great young men and will be an experience I will carry with me the rest of my life."
Holman spent the past eight seasons at North Carolina in a variety of coaching responsibilities, serving as goalkeeper coach as well as helping coordinate the offense, among other duties. He played goalie in college at Johns Hopkins and also coached at Johns Hopkins.
Marcus Holman, his son, and Will Manny will join Brian Holman’s staff.
Rich Kladis, the Utes’ former head coach, will stay on as an assistant coach and has been named director of operations for Utah lacrosse.
"After putting my heart and soul into building this program for the last eight years, I'm thrilled to have Brian taking the reigns," Kladis said in the team release. "Having the opportunity to work with this new staff is just a dream come true."
The Utes open the 2017 season by taking on Chapman, the defending MCLA Division I national champions, in California on Feb. 16, 2017.