Nichols College Men's Lacrosse

Shane Lynch was named head coach of the Nichols College Men’s Lacrosse Team prior to the 2023 spring season. During his time on "The Hill", Lynch has guided Nichols to two appearances in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament Men’s Lacrosse Championship, highlighted by the team's 2023 CCC Semifinal victory at Roger Williams University, 6-4 in his first season with the program. Individually, a number of the program’s student-athletes have stood out under Lynch's guidance, with seven players earning a total of nine All-CCC accolades, including 2023 CCC Scholar Athlete of the Year Nick Gualtieri. Additionally, new arrivals to the program have also thrived under Lynch in the 2025 season, his third at the helm, with freshman attacker Kane Williams claiming Conference of New England (CNE) Rookie of the Week honors throughout the season.  Lynch comes to Nichols following a stint as the Associate Head Coach at College of the Holy Cross, spending four seasons on the sidelines for the Crusaders, holding the responsibilities of Defensive Coordinator. In his first season with Holy Cross in 2019, Lynch helped guide the squad to a 7-7 record, securing wins over Navy, Brown, and Harvard. The team earned the fifth seed in the Patriot League (PL) postseason, a program best dating back to 1988. His defense finished the regular-season fifth in caused turnovers, eighth in scoring defense, and 15th in man-down defense in all of NCAA Division I. Lynch coached All-PL First Team selection in defender Matt Farrell in 2019 prior to Sean New being selected in the first-round of the 2020 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), the Crusaders first and only PLL selection. Most recently, Chris Conlin was named to the All-PL First Team as a defender in 2022 after garnering Second Team honors in 2021. Prior to his time in Worcester, Lynch spent four seasons with the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) as the head coach and assistant athletic director from August 2015 to August 2018. While at NAPS, Lynch helped recruit, train, and develop future members of the Navy men's lacrosse team. Before his stop at NAPS, Lynch was an assistant at Washington College. At Washington, Lynch was a part of a special team that made its way to the Division III Final Four with an 18-2 final record in the 2014 season. Lynch helped guide several players who were recognized as some of the Centennial Conference's (CC) as well as the nation's best players, including Casey McKnight who was All-CC for three seasons before being named an All-American and the Division III Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. He has also shown an ability to develop talent for the next level, with five National Lacrosse League draft picks to his credit, highlighted by a Canisius player being selected in the top 20 picks in three of the last four NLL Entry Drafts. Lynch was a four-year letter winner at Wesley College as a member of the Wolverines' lacrosse team, highlighted by being named the team captain in his final two seasons. After receiving his Bachelor's in Sports Management from Wesley in 2011, Lynch was awarded his Master's in History from Washington College in 2014.  

Gobiel begins his sixth season at the helm of the Nichols mens lacrosse program and second as Associate Director of Athletics in 2016-17. Gobiel who became a full-time member of the staff in 2012 served as the Assistant Director of Athletics for three years before being elevated to Associate AD in August, 2015. Gobiel oversees all contest management and game operations, as well as all capital construction and renovation projects. He also supervises student-athlete affairs and works as the departments recruiting coordinator. Gobiel previously worked as scheduling coordinator as oversaw the colleges Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Five of Gobiels student-athletes were named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Academic All-Conference Team in 2016 while Brian Hancock was a New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Academic All-New England pick. The Bison recorded their highest win total since in four seasons in 2015, led by Michael Bane, who graduates as the programs all-time leader in goals (129). Gobiel also saw three student-athletes earn NEILA Academic All-New England honors in Bane, Corey Davis, and Shaun Delaney. In 2012, Gobiel guided the Bison to their highest win total (seven) since the 2004 campaign and a berth in the CCC Semifinals. Three of Gobiels student-athletes earned All-CCC honors following the season. The 2007 Middlesex League Coach of the Year, Gobiel ran the Warriors varsity and junior varsity squads serving as a mentor and role model for 70 players on a daily basis. In 2010 and 2011 Wakefield made the MIAA East Division II Tournament. The Chelmsford, Mass. native also brings head coaching experience from his time at San Dieguito Academy (Encinitas, Calif.), Full Tilt Lacrosse and Indoor Action Sports. Gobiel has served as an assistant coach at Chelmsford High School and the mens club team at Northeastern University. As an undergraduate, Gobiel was a four-year member of the Plymouth State mens lacrosse team and two-year captain for Panthers. Gobiel earned his bachelors degree in communication with a minor in sociology and was named the 2004 Panther Award winner for on and off field leadership. Prior to his full-time appointment at Nichols, Gobiel taught at the Campus Academy High School, which is run by the SEEM Collaborative. At Campus Academy, he worked with students with behavioral needs with math, science and life skills. Gobiel who earned his Masters degree in special education from Fitchburg State University in 2013 resides in Chelmsford, Mass. Career Record at Nichols

Zach Barden begins his first season as the men's lacrosse graduate assistant coach in 2025-26. The Swampscott, Massachusetts native graduated from Springfield College in 2025, following a collegiate career with the school as well participating in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.  Coupled with his role at Nichols, Barden is a coach at 3D New England, a unique regional lacrosse network that gives youth of all ages access to elite coaching experience and the opportunity to participate in tournaments. Was also a coach for 3D New England South over the past summer of 2025. Started his lacrosse experience at St. Mary's High School (Lynn), earning eleven letter across four sports including soccer, football, and basketball.