O'Connell announces resignation as University of Dallas Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

IRVING, Texas - Matt O'Connell has announced his resignation as University of Dallas Men's Lacrosse Head Coach, effective Aug. 1, 2012, to pursue other career opportunities. 

Hired to build the men's lacrosse program from scratch in 2010, Coach O'Connell compiled a 7-23 record in two seasons leading the Crusaders.

Dallas finished with a 3-13 record in 2012 as first-year members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after netting a 3-13 mark in 2011, their inaugural season. 

The Crusaders notched their first-ever SCAC win on Mar. 30, 2012, in a 7-5 triumph over visiting Millsaps College (Miss.) before finishing 1-8 in SCAC competition. 

Coach O'Connell leaves the team a pair of highly-productive attackmen, whom both led Dallas in scoring in their respective freshman campaigns. 

6-foot sophomore Tony Lemos (Dana Point, Calif./JSerra H.S.) tallied 43 goals in 2011. His performance was followed in 2012 by a 35-goal effort from 5-foot-10 freshman Frank Sporleder (El Cajon, Calif./Granite Hills H.S.). 

The owner of several school records, Sporleder set Dallas' individual game ground-ball mark (17) on Apr. 11, 2012, in the team's 22-6 victory over future SCAC foe Centenary College of Louisiana.

Three of Coach O'Connell's players were named to the SCAC Spring 2012 Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll -- Joe Hrbacek (St. Paul, Minn./Trinity School at River Ridge), Brandon Nwannunu (Dallas, Texas/Conrad H.S.) and Lincoln O'Brien (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.). 

O'Brien was also tabbed to the 2012 SCAC Men's Lacrosse All-Sportsmanship Team. 

Along with SCAC member Southwestern University, Dallas is the only other NCAA Divsion III institution in Texas to offer men's lacrosse at the non-club level.