Kirwan Named IMLCA Assistant Coach of the Year; Cavaliers Earn Service Award

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. – Virginia men’s lacrosse assistant coach Sean Kirwan has been named the 2021 Intercollegiate Mens Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) Division I Outstanding Coach of the Year award recipient, the organization announced on Friday. Additionally, the UVA men’s program was named the recipient of this year’s IMLCA Sticks & Service award.

Kirwan, the team’s offensive coordinator, helped guide the Cavaliers to their second consecutive national championship in 2021. Kirwan aided UVA in becoming just the seventh program men’s program in D-I history to win back-to-back national titles and the first D-I men’s program to win six straight games in the NCAA finals (1999, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019, 2021). Under the guidance of Kirwan, Virginia’s offense finished first in the nation in goals (263) and third in goals per game (14.61). In 2021, UVA saw nine players earn All-American accolades, including a combined five offensive midfielders and attackmen. Virginia’s nine All-American selections tied for the most by any team in the nation last season. Kirwan also helped recruit and develop attackman Connor Shellenberger, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 NCAA Tournament after totaling a program record 24 points (14 goals and 10 assists) in the postseason tournament. Kirwan has served under Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany for the past seven seasons (2015-present).

The IMLCA Sticks & Service Award is presented to the coaching staff who encourages their players to be more active within the community, whether it is related to lacrosse or not. The award recognizes a program that goes above and beyond for their community when outside the lines and off the field. The award is a byproduct of the IMLCA’s Humanitarian Award, which has only been awarded three times in the history of the coaches’ convention. Most recently, members of the Virginia men’s lacrosse program organized the Will Barrow Memorial Flag Football Tournament, which raised a record $51,800 – roughly twice as much as the previous high – for the UVA HELP Line and Harlem Lacrosse. The program and members of the coaching staff have also been involved with local organizations, including Start A Spark and the Special Olympics.