Marquette Hires Andrew Stimmel As New Men’s Lacrosse Coach

The first new era of Marquette men’s lacrosse is officially under way.

Marquette has officially hired Andrew Stimmel as the head men’s lacrosse coach. Stimmel is the second head coach in program history, replacing Joe Amplo who left for the Navy job earlier this month.

Stimmel is no stranger to Milwaukee, having served as an assistant to Amplo for the 2016 season. The Golden Eagles won their first Big East tournament title that season and made their way to the NCAA tournament for the first time as well. Stimmel was the defensive coordinator on that team, the same position that he previously held at Yale.

In fact, it’s Yale where Stimmel comes from now, as he returned to New Haven after just one season at Marquette. He’s been the offensive coordinator for head coach Andy Shay since returning to Yale, and things have been going pretty well for the Bulldogs over the past few years. I’ll let College Crosse explain:

He had immediate success, ranking 9th in Scoring Offense in 2017 and 15th in Offensive Efficiency. Then a year later he led the #2 Scoring Offense, which won the National Championship and featured Tewaaraton winner Ben Reeves. The Bulldogs were again elite this year, 3rd in the country in Scoring Offense and going all the way back to the title game.

This is after leading really great defensive corps at both Yale and Marquette, so it gives Stimmel a particularly rounded view of things when it comes to being a head coach.

Stimmel was an assistant at Marquette for perhaps the best season in program history, and perhaps the most surprising season as well. The Golden Eagles were still very much a fledgling program in 2016 when they knocked off #1 Denver to win the Big East tourney and reach the NCAA tournament. That win permanently launched the Golden Eagles into the national conversation, and that’s something that Stimmel will be looking to continue. Marquette has gone 6-8 in the last two seasons under Amplo, with injuries taking their toll in 2018 and questions about player commitment lingering in 2019 after a three game losing streak was capped off by the suspension of 19 players at once.

It will be up to Stimmel to put Marquette back on the winning side of the ledger in 2020 and in the future. The idea of attempting to build off of the nearly absurdly successful start to the program that Amplo had sounds like a tough task at hand, but that’s the job that Stimmel has signed up for here.

Let’s wrap up with quotes from the official press release.

Athletic Director Bill Scholl:

“Andrew is one of the rising stars in the lacrosse world and we are thrilled to know that he will be leading the Marquette men’s lacrosse program,” said Marquette Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl. ”He cares greatly about the student-athlete experience, believes deeply in Marquette and our values and he can flat out coach. He has been a winner at every stop along the way and we expect that to continue in Milwaukee. We are proud to welcome Andrew, his wife Vanessa, and sons, JJ and Rhys, back to the Marquette family.”

“Andrew has a track record of success with championship-caliber programs and experience coaching elite units on both sides of the field.” Scholl said. “He is a value-driven leader who has built meaningful relationships with his student-athletes, including our own during his one year with the program.”

Stimmel himself:

“I would like to thank President Michael R. Lovell, Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl, Deputy Athletic Director Mike Broeker and Executive Athletic Director Danielle Josetti for the incredible opportunity to be the next head lacrosse coach at Marquette University,” Stimmel said. ”What excites me most about Marquette is the vision and alignment from President Lovell and Bill Scholl to continue a tradition of excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Marquette’s unparalleled commitment to building an exceptional lacrosse program while producing elite leaders is second to none and I couldn’t be more excited to continue that tradition. I am blessed to have had great mentors in my life in Andy Shay, Joe Amplo and Nick Myers who have all taught me the value of accountability, belief and work ethic; all things I feel the Marquette community embodies making this a perfect fit for me & my family.”