Drexel Names Brian Voelker Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
Philadelphia – Brian Voelker has been named the head coach of the Drexel men’s lacrosse team. Voelker was the head coach at the University of Pennsylvania for the past seven seasons. The announcement was made by Drexel Director of Athletics Dr. Eric Zillmer.
Voelker led the Quakers to two NCAA Tournament appearances in his seven seasons. He led the 2004 team to an NCAA appearance for the first time in 15 years. The Quakers, who finished the year with the eighth-toughest schedule in the country, were 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League. Five of the Quakers opponents were ranked in the top 10 and the team’s Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) was 10th in the nation. That was good enough to secure an at-large bid, which was the first for a Penn men’s lacrosse team since 1989.
In 2006, Voelker had the Quakers back in the postseason with a 10-4 record and a 4-2 mark in Ivy play. It was the Quakers’ best overall record since 1988 and their top finish in the Ivy League since 1989. The team was ranked as high as seventh in the nation during the 2006 season. Penn’s season came to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with a loss to defending national champion Johns Hopkins.
Before his arrival at Penn, Voelker was the head coach and assistant general manager for the Baltimore Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. He coached the 2001 National Division championship team and was selected to coach in the MLL’s Inaugural All-Star Game. He previously served for five seasons as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins. The 1999 and 2000 teams advanced to the NCAA Semifinals.
Voelker played collegiately at Johns Hopkins University and was a three-time All-American for the Blue Jays. After he graduated in 1991 with a degree in sociology, he took his first assistant coaching position under Bill Tierney at Princeton University. The Tigers won the national championship in his only year there.
Voelker played for the United States World Team in both 1994 and 1998. In 1998, he was named to the All-Tournament Team and was selected as the Top Defensive Player of the games. Voelker played for three championship teams during his seven seasons as a member of the Philadelphia Wings. He also won a title while playing with the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse.