Concordia University Irvine to Join RMAC as Associate Men’s Lacrosse Member
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has announced the addition of Concordia University Irvine as an associate member for men’s lacrosse beginning in the 2024 season. CUI’s men’s lacrosse program is set to make the jump from a club program to a full NCAA Division II member, bringing the Golden Eagles’ athletic department to 21 NCAA-sponsored sports.
Concordia joins the RMAC as the league’s fifth men’s lacrosse member institution and does so after earning the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division II national championship during the 2017 season. Most recently, the Golden Eagles made an appearance in the 2022 MCLA National Championships, falling in a very narrow 12-11 result to No. 8 Georgia Tech in the opening round. As a young program that began in the 2009 season, CUI’s impressive program resume makes them a strong addition to the RMAC men’s lacrosse league.
"It's with great excitement that we welcome CUI men's lacrosse into the RMAC as an associate member,” said RMAC Commissioner Chris Graham. “One of our membership priorities has been the identification and growth of Division II men's lacrosse in the West. We appreciate CUI's commitment to elevating men's lacrosse to the varsity level, and are very hopeful that sponsorship will continue trending upward as we provide more opportunities for our student-athletes."
Jesse Foss is the third head coach in CUI program history and holds a 35-17 overall record since taking the reins ahead of the 2019 season. Immediately upon being named the program’s head coach, Foss led his team to wins over a then-No. 3 BYU and No. 1 Michigan State in the 2019 campaign. The CUI program was founded in the 2009 season and has since compiled a 159-55 overall record. With 10 or more wins in two of its last four seasons, which includes seasons cut short due to the global pandemic, the Golden Eagles join the RMAC as a member worthy of title contention.
“It’s very rewarding and I am thrilled for the program, the university, and the sport of lacrosse,” said CUI head coach Jesse Foss on becoming an associate RMAC men’s lacrosse member. “For the sport to grow it needs to expand out West. CUI gives players an opportunity to stay out west, attend a great university, and play high-level NCAA lacrosse. We have been working hard to make this a reality and we are also honored that the university has made this commitment to the program and our student-athletes.”
"We are thrilled with the news that our men's lacrosse team can officially transition into the NCAA Division II and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference,” said CUI athletic director Crystal Rosenthal. “After a remarkable run in the MCLA over the past several years, we are eager to take another step up and provide that next level experience for our men in our lacrosse program. As we move towards the next era for men's lacrosse, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our past players and coaches that have made this legacy so strong in this program. This is a huge moment for our entire department, and we could not be more excited to watch our Golden Eagles transition into the new era of men's lacrosse.”