Denison University Men's Lacrosse

Eric Koch will begin his fifth season as the Head Coach of the Denison University men's lacrosse program in 2026. In the 2025 season, the Big Red lacrosse team made its ninth-straight appearance in the NCAC Tournament, but would lose in the championship game to Ohio Wesleyan 13-10. Overall, the Big Red went 13-7 and 7-1 in conference play. Five of the seven losses came to nationally-ranked teams. Despite the championship loss, Koch and the team would get a NCAA tournament bid. Denison would fight, but would lose in the first round to eventual NCAA Runner-Up Dickinson College 8-7 in overtime in the first round. 10 Big Red were named All-NCAC, seven of them being first-team honorees. Grant Larson and Khari Freeman were named to major awards, as Larson was named Specialist of the Year and Freeman was Newcomer of the Year. Tommy Quinson, Larson, Andrew Albert, and Charlie Pellegrino were all repeat all-conference selections, with Quinson earning back-to-back first-team honors. Seven players would be named All-Americans, as Quinson and AJ Boxler were Honorable Mention All-American from USA Lacrosse, while Quinson, Boxler, Jack Hines, Collin Murphy, Charlie Haight, Albert, and Larson were recognized by USILA as Honorable Mention All-Americans. Quinson finished his career first in career shots attempted (540), fourth in career goals (168), and fifth in career points (236). As a team, Denison ranked top-three offensively in the conference in goals per game (14.58), points per game (23), shot percentage (.336), and assists per game (8.42). They were third in faceoff percentage with 64.1% of faceoffs won, and turned the ball over the least in the conference (18.58). In addition to their conference success, the Big Red also ranked 19th nationally in shot percentage. Koch helped guide Denison to its eighth-straight North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title when they downed Kenyon by a 15-11 score in the championship match. Denison concluded the season with a 14-6 overall record and an 8-0 mark in NCAC regular season play to capture the regular season title as well. Five of Denison's six losses came against nationally-ranked opponents. The Big Red battled but ultimately dropped a 12-10 decision to 10th ranked Babson in the NCAA Second Round. Following the conclusion of the season, Luke Fisher earned All-America honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine. Fisher also earned NCAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for a third time. Brooks Crowley secured NCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fisher and Crowley both claimed spots on the All-NCAC First Team. Eleven team members overall secured All-NCAC honors. Fisher finished his career as the all-time career points leader with 306. As a team, Denison finished the season ranked among the top 10 in Division III in man-up offense and ground balls. The 50 percent conversion ranked sixth in man-up offense while their 840 ground balls put them eighth best in D-III. Denison finished its 2023 season, its second season under Coach Koch, with a 17-4 overall record, which was good for the fifth most wins in a single season in program history, and advanced to the NCAA Third Round (Sweet Sixteen) for the second season in a row. As a team, the Big Red dished out a program-record 209 assists and finished with the second highest faceoff percentage (.708 percent) in program history. During the regular season, the Big Red went 7-1 against North Coast Athletic Conference opponents and finished in a three-team tie for first place to win their 21st NCAC regular-season championship in program history. For the third year in a row, Denison hosted Kenyon College for the NCAC Tournament Championship, and for the third year in a row, the Big Red were victorious. However, in this matchup, the second-seeded Owls took a 10-3 halftime lead and gave the top-seeded Big Red all they could handle until a game-ending 6-1 run for Denison finishing with the game-winning goal by Tournament MVP Quinn O'Donnell with just 10 seconds remaining. After winning its seventh straight NCAC Tournament title, Denison competed in the national tournament for the 27th time in program history and for the seventh season in a row, scoring six goals in the fourth quarter to pull away from Illinois Wesleyan University and earn a 15-10 victory over the Titans during the second round of the NCAA Tournament inside Deeds Field-Piper Stadium. Junior attackman Luke Fisher was named the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career (2021, 2023) while freshman faceoff specialist Grant Larson was both the NCAC Specialist of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year. In addition to Fisher and Larson, senior goalkeeper Archer Darrach, junior defenseman Brooks Crowley and junior long stick midfielder Owen O'Neill were each been named as United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division III Honorable Mention All-Americans. In Koch's first season coaching the team in 2022, Denison earned its 20th NCAC regular-season championship in program history with a perfect 9-0 conference record. The Big Red then outscored Kenyon 8-0 in the second half to capture the NCAC Tournament Championship by a final score of 12-5. It was Denison's seventh overall and sixth straight NCAC Tournament title. After finishing with two wins and a combined 21 saves with only 14 goals allowed in two games, junior goalkeeper Archer Darrach was named the NCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Senior Camden Bowdy was named the NCAC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year and was a USILA Third-Team All-American while fellow-senior Davis Cronin was the NCAC Specialist of the Year and was an Honorable Mention All-American along with sophomore defender Brooks Crowley. Lastly, for the 26th time in program history and for the sixth time in a row, Denison men's lacrosse competed in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, earning a 14-13 win over Grove City in the second round thanks to the game-winning goal by sophomore Nate Kay. Koch is the eighth coach in Denison’s history of the men’s lacrosse program. He came to Denison after seven seasons at Washington and Lee University, where he began as an assistant coach in 2014 before being elevated to Assistant Head Coach in 2018. During his time coaching at W&L, the Generals went 94-43 (.686) and won three Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular-season titles, two conference tournament titles, and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament.   “We are excited to welcome Eric Koch to the Denison family in his role as Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach," said Denison's Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics, Nan Carney-DeBord. "His leadership at W&L has provided him outstanding skills for him to take on this leadership opportunity at Denison. He has a clear understanding of skill development physically, mentally, and in terms of strength and conditioning. He has a strong heritage of competitive success, both as a player and as a coach. He will embrace our incredible alumni and families, which are some of Denison’s greatest assets. Ultimately, Eric has a clear understanding of the role of Athletics within a highly academically competitive institution and will advance our core value of competitive excellence. Our men will thrive under his leadership, mentorship, and skill development prowess. We also would like to welcome Eric’s family to Granville.”   “First I would like to thank Nan Carney-DeBord and the search committee for their faith in me and the incredible opportunity to lead the men’s lacrosse program," said Koch. "This is a dream come true and I am honored to work at such a distinguished university that values success both on the field and in the classroom. Denison men’s lacrosse has a rich and storied history, and I am proud to now be part of it. Moreover, I am humbled to follow and build upon the successes of one of our sport’s greatest coaches in Mike Caravana. I look forward to building relationships with players, alumni, friends of the program, colleagues, the administration and the greater Denison community as my family and I make our new home in Granville. I also want to thank everyone at Washington and Lee who helped me grow and evolve throughout my seven years back in Lexington. I cannot thank Coach McCabe and Jan Hathorn enough for the opportunity and for sharing their wisdom and guidance over the years.” In 2018, Koch was named Assistant Head Coach at W&L and served as the team’s defensive coordinator. His defenses were some of the best in the country during his time leading the defensive unit. In his first year in this new role, Koch’s defense led the ODAC in goals-against average (GAA) with 8.20, which also ranked in the top 50 of Division III. In 2019, Koch’s defense climbed toward the top of the national rankings with the Generals taking the top spot for their man-down defense (.869) and the third spot in defensive scoring, allowing only 6.48 goals per game. In 2020, W&L ranked second in the conference in goals-against average with 6.80 and led the conference in save percentage with 64.9.   Over his time at W&L, Koch coached 16 defensive players to All-ODAC honors, and nine players earned All-American status. He was named to the IMLCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018 and 2019.   Before returning to his alma mater, Koch coached at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he spent five seasons as part of the Duck's staff. Over his five seasons, Stevens went 63-25, made three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and won one Empire 8 Conference title in 2012. During this time, Koch earned his Master of Science in Management degree at Stevens.   Koch graduated from Washington and Lee where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree in 2005. He was a four-year letter winner for the Generals, captaining the team in his senior year. As a defenseman, he was a three-year starter and helped lead the Generals to two ODAC titles and a trip to the 2002 NCAA Semifinals. He was named to the All-ODAC Second Team in 2004 and All-ODAC First Team in 2005. Koch was named Honorable Mention All-America following his senior season.   In addition to his head lacrosse coaching duties, Koch will serve as an assistant professor in Denison's Department of Physical Education.   Koch at Denison Year Season at DU Overall Record Conference Finish/Accomplishments 2022 1st 16-5 1st NCAC (NCAC Regular Season Champions) NCAC Tournament Champions Advanced to NCAA Third Round (Sweet 16) 2023 2nd 17-4 T-1st NCAC (NCAC Regular Season Champions) NCAC Tournament Champions Advanced to NCAA Third Round (Sweet 16) 2024 3rd 14-6 1st NCAC (NCAC Regular Season Champions) NCAC Tournament Champions NCAA Tournament Appearance  2025  4th 13-7 2nd NCAC Received At-Large Bid to NCAA Tournament NCAA First Round Appearance Overall 60-22 (.732 pct.) Three NCAC Regular-Season Championships Three NCAC Tournament Championships Four NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances

Caravana has enjoyed two coaching stints spanning 23 years at Denison University.  During his time in Granville, he has guided Denison to a pair of NCAA Final Four appearances in 1999 and 2001, nine NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearances and 10 North Coast Athletic Conference championships.  In 2013 he earned his 200th career victory after a win over Centre College and in 2016 he became Denison's career leader in wins. In 2016, Denison won the NCAC regular season and tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 before falling to eventual national champion, Salisbury, in overtime.  Three players, Bart Farinholt, Liam Rooney and Ben Duhoski were named to the USILA All-American team. In 2014, Denison went 19-1 setting new program marks for wins, goals (320), assists (189), and points (509).  Caravana was named to NCAC Coach of the Year, as five of his players were named to the USILA All-American team.  After racing through the regular season with a 15-0 record, Denison would win two NCAC Tournament games, and a pair of NCAA Tournament games before falling to eventual national runner-up, Salisbury, in the quarterfinals. Caravana boasts a career record of 256-87 and owns a stellar .746 winning percentage.  He has never had a losing season and his team's have won 10 or more games 15 times. Since his arrival in 1991 he has coached 59 All-Americans and in 1994 he was named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's Division III Coach of the Year.  He is a five-time NCAC Coach of the Year and in 2003 he began a four-year commitment as the assistant coach for the United States lacrosse national team that earned a silver medal at the 2006 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship. Caravana's first coaching stint at Denison spanned 1991 through 2005 where he won 145 games.  Caravana went on to serve as the head boys lacrosse coach at Woodbury Forest School (Va.) before returning to Denison as the head coach in the fall of 2008.  Since reclaiming the post, Caravana has taken the Big Red program to even greater heights.  In 2009 DU defeated No. 3 Roanoke, 14-7, to advance to the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8 for the first time since 2001.  In the eight years since his return, Caravana's teams have won 111 games with a .835 winning percentage. A 1983 graduate of the University of Virginia, Caravana was a four-time All-American attackman for the Cavaliers. He earned a bachelor's degree in education and was a captain during his senior season. Caravana led Virginia in scoring three times and in assists all four seasons. Following graduation, Caravana spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University, then returned to U.Va., where he served as assistant head coach under Jim "Ace" Adams before accepting the head coaching position at Denison in the fall of 1990.  In 1998, Caravana earned his master's degree in sport management from the United States Sports Academy. Caravana ranks second in all-time victories at Denison, trailing only his predecessor, Ferris "Tommy" Thomsen, Jr., who guided DU to 255 wins over the course of 25 seasons (1966-1990). He is a member of the Charlottesville Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the Ohio Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame and the Long Island Metro Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Entering the 2014 season, Caravana ranked 23rd among active coaches in terms of winning percentage across all divisions of the NCAA.  In NCAA Division III, Caravana ranked 13th in all-time career victories. Caravana and his wife, Ashlin, live in Granville and have three three sons, Nick, 22; Sam, 20; and Wyatt, 17.