May 30, 2011 - 9:33am
Report: 'M' lacrosse programs to move to Division-I
BY ZACH HELFAND
The Michigan Athletic Department is set to grant varsity status to the men’s and women’s lacrosse programs according to a report on Insidelacrosse.com. The report states the men will move to Division I for the 2012 season with the women following suit a year later.
The programs, which currently have varsity club status, would become Michigan’s 26th and 27th Division-I teams.
According to Michigan Associate Athletic Director David Ablauf, though, the Athletic Department has not made any official decision regarding the programs.
"We are exploring the options, but there has been no decision made," Ablauf said.
Michigan men's coach John Paul declined to comment and directed inquiries to Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon.
In December, 2010, Brandon said on Insidelacrosse.com that the department was looking into adding the programs.
“We're highly interested in adding lacrosse as a varsity sport,” Brandon said. “We very much would like to do it but we have to first prove it's a viable option.
“We know what lacrosse is about here and there's a lot of interest in it in the community and for all those reasons I think it's important for us to evaluate. I would be really excited for the opportunity to add sports here at Michigan.”
The men’s club lacrosse team was founded in 1940 and has an overall record of 716-141 and 99-2 conference record in the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Its current winning streak is at 73 games, and the Wolverines have won the past three MCLA National Championships. Michigan’s last loss came on May 16, 2007 to Georgia.
The women’s team took the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse League conference title last year. The team was founded in 2003 and has an overall record of 149-47.
The last program to be given varsity status was the women’s water polo team, which started Division I competition in 2001.
