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SAN MARCOS, TX – Texas State team recently announced that Michael Brand has been named the head coach for the Bobcats lacrosse program.
Brand comes to Central Texas after one year as an assistant coach at Brown University in Providence R.I., where he helped lead the Bears to an appearance in the 2012 Ivy League Championship Tournament. He takes over for Chris Figueroa, who stepped down from coaching after winning 16 games in two years at the helm of the program.
"I'm thrilled to have Michael Brand as the next head coach for our men's lacrosse program," Texas State Lacrosse Alumni Chair Kyle Saunders said. "Michael's lacrosse pedigree is amazing and for our program to have a former NCAA Division I assistant as our head coach is a huge blessing. I have gotten to know Coach Brand from his days coaching in the south and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our program. We have a ton of talent in San Marcos and his credibility will take us to the next level."
Regarded as one of the most forward thinking and networked coaches in men's lacrosse, Brand helped guide Brown to seven victories in his one year in Providence. The Bears finished the season ranked No. 24 in the country by LaxPower in 2012.
In 2012, Brand helped guide seven Brown players to earn All-Ivy honors, while three players were also named to the NEILA All-New England team.
Prior to Brown, Brand spent three seasons as the head coach at Centenary College of Louisiana, a MCLA Division II team located in Shreveport. In his first season with the Gents program in 2009, the team won one game in their first year of existence relying heavily on a group of student-athletes new to the sport of lacrosse.
In his second year, the Gents made massive strides and the team finished with a 6-7 record, falling in the conference championship. Brand was named the 2010 Lone Star Alliance Conference Coach of the year for the drastic turnaround in one year. In his third season they once again qualified for the LSA conference tournament. During his tenure at the helm of the Gentlemen program he helped 16 student-athletes attain all conference status.
Brand came to Centenary from Misericordia University, where he served as graduate assistant coach for the Cougars in 2007 and 2008. He was the first assistant in the team's history and also served as MU's main recruiting coordinator, as well as the athletic department's assistant equipment manager and basketball operations assistant.
Prior to his position at MU, Brand was a local development officer with the English Lacrosse Association, introducing lacrosse in physical education classes in the southwest of England. He was also a member of the Bath Lacrosse Club and was the head coach of the men's side at Bath University.
A 2005 graduate of SUNY Buffalo, Brand majored in communications while playing for the Bengals from 2000-03. He was a two year defensive captain and led the team in ground balls and minutes played his senior year.
While finishing his degree at Buffalo, Brand served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Grand Island High School in Western N.Y. He got his start at the collegiate coaching level in 2006 at Medaille College prior to moving on to coach at Misericordia.
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