DETROIT — University of Detroit Mercy head men's lacrosse coach Chris Kolon '09 (MBA) — the last member of the inaugural Titan program — has announced that he will step down after the season to pursue another lacrosse opportunity.
Kolon has accepted a position as a Director with Team 91 in Michigan.
"Detroit Mercy lacrosse will always have a special place in my heart," said coach Kolon. "It's been a privilege to work with the numerous players, families, and staff since the program's inception. Through the efforts of many individuals over the years, the program's culture is strong and prepared for any future adversity and success. I hope to continue to be involved in any way, and I'm confident that the men's lacrosse student-athletes at UDM will continue to thrive."
He served the University for all 16 seasons of men's lacrosse, starting as an assistant coach in 2009 and helping build the program from scratch. He was later promoted to head coach following the 2014 campaign.
In his first six seasons as an assistant coach, the Titans quickly built a championship program, advancing to the MAAC title game in 2011 and winning the league and securing a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2013. As a head coach, his first victory was a memorable one over Ohio State, and he would go on to lead the squad to its first three winning campaigns and a trip to the 2018 MAAC Championship. His teams were among the top in the MAAC in academic accolades in Academic All-League selections and honor roll recipients.
The 2018 season proved to be a record-breaking one for Detroit Mercy as the Titans registered new standards in several categories, with the highest on the list totaling nine victories, breaking the school mark of eight in 2015, and registering a school-record five conference wins. As a team, the 2018 squad broke the school record in total points (261), goals (165), assists, least turnovers per game (14.38) and goals-against average (9.36). Current assistant coach Charlie Hayes '18 - a senior on that squad - helped guide that defense as the All-MAAC First Team Short Stick Midfielder saw the team post 8.56 caused turnovers per game to lead the MAAC and rank eighth in the country. He recorded 34 total caused turnovers, tied for the most ever by a short stick midfielder with Loyola Maryland's Pat Laconi in 2014.
Kolon has coached 15 players who got drafted or played in the MLL, NLL, and PLL. Four Titans have captured professional titles, including Hayes, who won a PLL ring with the Waterdogs in 2022. In 2019, Kolon was named an assistant coach with the Atlas Lacrosse Club in the brand-new Premier Lacrosse League.
During his time with Detroit Mercy, Kolon has overseen all aspects of the Titans' defense and served as the team's recruiting coordinator. Under his leadership, UDM has ranked among the nation's leaders and set a NCAA record.
Kolon's defensive mind and aggressiveness saw Detroit Mercy lead the nation in caused turnovers per game in 2012 (10.47) and 2011 (11.63), while finishing tied for second in 2013 (10.0) and third in 2010 (10.47). One of the best defensive minds in the game, he coached two of the top caused turnover leaders in NCAA history as the three-time MAAC LSM of the Year Jordan Houtby finished his career number one in the NCAA record book with 158, while 2013 graduate and All-MAAC honoree defenseman Jamie Hebden was second at 123 when they graduated. In 2014, Kolon saw freshman Jason Weber earn the MAAC's Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year as he topped the nation with a pair of school records, finishing with 16.27 saves per game and a .642 save percentage.
In 2013, the Titan defense gave up just 9.93 goals per game, second in the MAAC and 25th in the nation. His defense held the top-scoring team in the MAAC, Marist, to just six goals in the conference semifinals and then allowed just nine goals to No. 2 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament — the least amount of goals ever allowed by an MAAC squad in NCAA Tournament history.
He guided the program through the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and a change of conferences from the MAAC to the ASUN in 2022. Last year, the Titans earned the team academic award for the second-straight season from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association for posting a team GPA of 3.17. In 2022, a pair of players ranked in the top 10 in the nation as graduate senior Paul Manuszak was third in the Atlantic Sun and sixth in the nation with a career-best 2.00 caused turnovers per game, while the rookie Jakob Hemme was first in the league and eighth in the country with 13.40 saves per game.
A search for a new head coach will be conducted following the season.
