Washington College Men's Lacrosse

Washington College Director of Athletics Thad Moore announced the appointment of Washington College Athletics Hall of Famer John Nostrant '86 as the 12th head men's lacrosse coach in the history of the program in May 2021. A 1986 graduate of the College, Nostrant was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American midfielder and key member of three national-runner up squads during his time in Chestertown.   Nostrant was part of the Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2026 as he guided the Shoremen to 12 wins, their most in 12 years, and a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament. The team's season was highlighted by a 10-9 triple overtime win versus #11 Dickinson, its first win in the series since 2014. Nostrant's team went 4-1 in overtime contests, winning extra session games against Haverford, Stockton and Swarthmore in addition to Dickinson. Five players landed All-Centennial Conference honors and two picked up All-America recognition. The 2025 season saw the team win its 50th all-time game against McDaniel in a 20-7 win on April 9. Two players earned All-Centennial Conference honors.  In 2024, the Shoremen won their final three Centennial games to earn their first spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament in nine years. Washington clinched its spot on the final day tallying its first win over #20 Gettysburg since 2014, with an 18-14 triumph, and a Swarthmore win over Haverford.  Washington saw its victory total double in each of his first two seasons with the team in 2022 and 2023.   Nostrant, who was inducted into Washington College's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002, returned to his alma mater following two seasons as the head lacrosse coach at The Gilman School in Baltimore. Prior to his time at Gilman, Nostrant spent 28 years at the Haverford School, an independent boys' school in Haverford, Pennsylvania. He joined the faculty and coaching staff at Haverford School and assumed the head coach position in 1991. In addition to his lacrosse duties, John was the Director of Athletics at Haverford for 22 years. Before Haverford, John served as the head lacrosse coach at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. in 1990-1991 after serving as an assistant coach for one season. John began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Washington College, where he spent three seasons (1987-1989).  On the field at Haverford, Nostrant's teams won 490 games and earned 13 Inter-Academic League (Inter-Ac) regular-season championships, four Inter-Ac tournament titles, and two state championships (2000 and 2005). Two of his Haverford teams (2011 and 2015) finished their seasons undefeated and ranked #1 nationally, and he was named National High School Coach of the Year in 2015. Along the way, John has coached 36 high school All-Americans. He also served as an assistant coach for the USA U-19 world team, which won the gold medal in 2008.  Nostrant played professionally for three different teams. He was selected as a Second Team All-Pro in 1991 and 1992 as a member of the Philadelphia Wings of the Major League Lacrosse (MLL). John, who played for the Wings from 1992 through 1996, also played outdoor lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) for the Baltimore Tribe (1987) and Baltimore Thunders (1989-1991). He won three championships during his time with the Wings and played in six straight championships.  The Baldwinsville, N.Y. native was a four-year midfielder for the Shoremen from 1983-86 and captained the squad in 1986. During his time as a player, Washington played in three NCAA Division III national championship games. Nostrant was selected to the NCAA Division III All-American squad three times on the second team. He was selected by his teammates for the Most Valuable Player Award during his senior year.  John is the founder of John Nostrant Lacrosse Camps for youth boys and is the co-director of Mesa Lacrosse for girls and boys. John also organized the Checking for Cancer Lacrosse Tournament, which has raised money to support cancer research and families stricken by cancer.  Nostrant, who is also a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame, holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washington College. In addition, he holds a Master's in Education/Principal Certification from Cabrini University in Radnor, Pennsylvania.   John and his wife, Gina, have three children who all played Division I lacrosse. Their oldest daughter Olivia played at High Point from 2015-18 and was an All-Big South Conference defender. Son John was a midfielder at Penn State from 2018-21, earning Academic All-Big Ten. Their youngest daughter Marcella was a defender at VCU from 2019-22. 

Bryce Gifford was named assistant coach in the fall of 2025.  Gifford was part of the Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2026 that saw the team win 12 games, its most in a dozen years and  a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament. The went 4-1 in overtime contests, winning extra session games against Haverford, Stockton and Swarthmore in addition to Dickinson.  A 2021 graduate of Belmont Abbey, Gifford was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team as a goalie. He played in 36 career games, going 24-6 in net, including a 13-4 mark in 2019 and 6-0 in 2020. He stopped 383 shots and had a 9.52 goals against average in 1734:03 of action. Gifford's brother Cole '23, is the assistant coach for Shorewomen Soccer.

Grant Matthews was named assistant coach in the fall of 2025.  Matthews was part of the Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2026 that saw the team win 12 games, its most in a dozen years and  a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament. The went 4-1 in overtime contests, winning extra session games against Haverford, Stockton and Swarthmore in addition to Dickinson.  Matthews joined the coaching staff after completing his collegiate lacrosse career at Washington College, where he served as team captain in his final season. He also led the team in assists for two consecutive years. Known for his vision, leadership, and unselfish play, Matthews was a key contributor both on and off the field. In addition to his playing career, Matthews has helped coach youth lacrosse teams in the local area, and prides himself on building strong, trusting relationships with players. He focuses on communication, accountability, and mentorship to help athletes grow with confidence both on and off the field.

Shirk was named Washington College's 11th men's lacrosse coach during the summer of 2010 and has since left an indelible mark on the program's illustrious history. In his first season, Shirk guided a young Shoremen team to its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in nearly three years. The following season, Shirk was named the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year, guiding the Shoremen to a first-place finish in the Centennial Conference regular season for the first time since 2004 and landing them a spot in both the Centennial Conference Championship game and the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2008. In 2013, Shirk again led the Shoremen to an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance as they won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2008 and were ranked as high as fifth in the nation for the first time since 2008. Shirk also led the Shoremen to their first Charles B. Clark Cup victory as they defeated rival Salisbury for the first time since 2002. Shirk was again named the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 as the Shoremen went 18-2 (tying the team's single-season win mark and posting its second-highest ever winning percentage), went a perfect 8-0 in Centennial Conference regular season play, won the Centennial Conference Championship for the first time since 2003, and reached the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the first time since 2004. Following the season, he was named the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year by CaptainU. Shirk also serves as Assistant Athletic Director. Shirk came to Chestertown from Division I Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he served as head coach for four years. In just his second season at VMI, Shirk guided the Keydets to their first-ever appearance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament,  their first-ever win in a conference tournament game, and their first-ever appearance in a conference championship game.  In 2010, Shirk coached the first player in VMI history to earn All-America recognition as Tim Moran was lauded as an All-America honorable mention. In addition to his four years at VMI, Shirk boasts an impressive lacrosse coaching and playing background.  Shirk played four years as a short-stick defensive midfielder at the University of Maryland, where he served as team captain as a senior.  He played for the Terrapins 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Team and played in the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Division I National Championship Games.  Shirk played professional lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League for three seasons before focusing exclusively on coaching.   Shirks coaching experience began while still an undergraduate, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach during the 2000-01 academic year.  Following his graduation that spring, Shirk landed his first full-time coaching position as the head coach at Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in Rhode Island.  Shirk guided NAPS to an impressive 22-11 record over three seasons and helped develop five future Navy All-Americans.  While there , he also served as the Associate Director of Athletics and held the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Navy. Shirk returned to his alma mater for the 2004-05 academic year, serving as the Terps second assistant coach as Maryland won the ACC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I National Semifinals.  The following year, Shirk moved on to Brown University and served as the Bears defensive coordinator for one season before landing the head coaching position at VMI. A native of Mountain Lakes, NJ, Shirk and his wife Elizabeth have two daughters Emily and Anna, and a son - Garrett.  Shirk earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Maryland in May 2001.