In Landing Shannehan, Michigan Reunites Dynamic Brother Duo

When Boston University transfer Timothy Shannehan committed to Michigan last month, it meant a reunion in Ann Arbor with his younger brother, Luke.

A consensus All-American attackman and the NCAA Division I leader in points per game (5.43) this year, Shannehan was the prize of the portal. He said playing with his brother in high school — the duo led Fairfield Prep to a 21-1 season and the Connecticut state championship in 2024 — was some of the most fun he's ever had playing lacrosse.

 “I'm sure he could say the same,” Shannehan said. “Being able to do that again for now three years with 5-for-5 going through is going to be awesome.”

Michigan is hoping the brothers will look something like they did in their one full season together at Fairfield, when Timothy Shannehan had 73 goals and 61 assists and Luke Shannehan had 69 goals and 22 assists. Their father, Tim, played lacrosse at Vermont and is in the Hall of Fame there.

“We grew up doing everything together and still do everything together in the summer,” Timothy Shannehan said. “That off-the-field stuff translates to on the field. I was thinking back to my senior year of high school. I think 75 percent of my assists were to Luke and vice versa with him to me. We complement each other really well.”

The older Shannehan had plenty of suitors after posting career highs of 34 goals and 42 assists as a sophomore at BU.

“It was a super tough choice,” he said. “Leaving BU is tough. I mean, some of my best friends are there. Obviously, it was an amazing experience I had playing under Coach (Ryan) Polley, Coach (Mike) Silipo, Coach (Mike) Morgan. It was awesome. But the dream of mine and Luke's has always been to play college lacrosse together.”

Shannehan listened to several schools while in the portal from May 12 until his decision June 3. Michigan offensive coordinator Will Corrigan sent him clips of the Wolverines and brainstormed how he’d fit in and help the offense. Luke Shannehan wanted his older brother to make the best choice for him, but he may have been the loudest proponent for bringing him to Michigan.  

“I couldn't really put Michigan in his face more than I did,” he said. “So I kind of just let him be. And I knew a bunch of schools were after him.”

Luke Shannehan is coming off a freshman season in which he was the Wolverines' second-leading scorer with 28 goals and 11 assists. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. The brothers followed each other from afar, watching as many of each other’s games as possible.

“Playing with your brother’s obviously always gonna be one of the best things ever," he said. "We're going to look back on this maybe in 10, 20 years and just see how much we appreciated this opportunity.”

Of his younger brother, Timothy Shannehan said, “He's a big-time shooter, a volume shooter. His shots are falling in college lacrosse, which is good to see.”

The older Shannehan also produced in his first season of college lacrosse in 2025. He posted 32 goals and 29 assists as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year before playing for the U.S. team in the World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship. Now he’s taking those skills to Ann Arbor.

“It's just IQ of the game,” Luke Shannehan said. “He's such a smart player. He's basically the quarterback of his offense at BU, and I think that's going to continue at Michigan. He plays more at X, so he sees the whole field from behind the cage.”

The Shannehans have different ways of piling up points. Timothy is 5-foot-9. He’s aggressive, creative and unselfish. He’s 16 months older than Luke, who combines size and skill and a rifle of a shot in his 6-foot-2 frame.

“He probably passed me sometime in middle school, honestly,” Timothy Shannehan said.

Timothy Shannehan always played with a chip on his shoulder because of his size. He was overlooked by some schools after injuries cost him time in two summer recruiting circuits. He’s proven he can play with the best after two dynamic seasons at BU, including a trip to the Patriot League finals as a freshman.

“I'll be trying to play with poise and composure,” he said. “I'm entering Michigan as an upperclassman — trying to assimilate with the guys and fit in, but also trying to be a leader.”

Michigan was just 6-9 this year but beat Penn State late in the regular season and knocked off Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament. Led by Nick Roode, the Wolverines return their top four scorers in 2026 after ranking 47th in Division I with 10.8 goals per game.

“I know adding T is going to be better for the offense and every one of the guys coming back is going to produce a lot more. Our potential is through the roof," Luke Shannehan said. "This Michigan offense is going to surprise some people this next year.”

The brothers won’t live together this year, but there will be plenty of time to share — most importantly on the field.

“We're both doing our college experiences, but we'll be doing them together,” Timothy Shannehan said. “There’s no other way I'd want it.”