2025 Alumni Welcome Weekend Recap

On April 26, 2025, Virginia held its annual Alumni Welcome Back game against No. 9 Duke at Klöckner Stadium. During halftime, UVA honored its 1970 national championship team, members from the 1990s, and former longtime assistant coach Marc Van Arsdale – an initiative spearheaded by alumni Drew Fox ’94 and Doug Tarring ’72.

Members of the 1970 national championship were officially reunited for the first time-ever to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the program’s second of nine overall national championships. Led by first-year head coach Glenn Thiel, UVA finished the 1970 season 8-2 overall, including wins over Johns Hopkins, and ACC foes North Carolina and Maryland. Following the 1970 season, Virginia, Johns Hopkins and Navy were all declared tri-national champions by the USILA after each team finished 1-1 against the others in head-to-head competition. The 1970 championship marked UVA’s first since 1952, the program’s first-ever national title. The Cavaliers’ victory over the Terrapins proved to be their second of three consecutive ACC regular-season titles.

The team was captained by Jim Potter and Charlie Rullman and featured All-Americans Doug Hilbert on defense; Jim Potter, Charlie Rullman, and Pete Eldredge at midfield; and Tom Duquette at attack.

In the teams’ final three games, UVA outscored their opponents 42-9 holding Maryland, Washington & Lee and Hofstra to three goals each. On the season, the 1970 team held its opponents to an average of 5.8 goals per game.

The leadership and dedication of Virginia’s 1970 team established a standard of excellence that still permeates within the UVA men’s lacrosse program to this very day. The 1970 title was the last awarded by the USILA before the inaugural NCAA Tournament was contested in 1971, but it marked the beginning of UVA’s resurgence as one of the nation’s premier programs in the modern era.

The 1990s marked a monumental era for UVA Lacrosse, best remembered for establishing the fast, physical, and high-scoring style of play that continues to this very day. Beginning the decade under hall of fame coach Jim ‘Ace’ Adams and transitioning to hall of fame coach Dom Starsia for the 1993 season, the Cavaliers were able to grasp and sustain success, which culminated with the program’s second overall NCAA title in 1999. 

In addition to the 1999 championship, the 1990s saw UVA reach four Championship Weekends and three NCAA title games. Both the 1994 and 1996 teams reached the national championship game, raising the standard for years to follow. The Hoos also swept ACC regular-season and tournament titles in 1997 and 1999. Throughout the decade, Virginia achieved a win percentage 72-percent, with a combined overall record of 105-41.

The 1990s also produced some of the best players the sport has ever seen, including but not limited to Andy Kraus, Mike Schattner, Doug Knight, Michael Watson, Tim Whiteley, Greg Traynor, Tommy Smith, Connor Gill, Jay Jalbert, Tucker Radebaugh and Ryan Curtis. During the 1990s, Virginia claimed more than 50 All-Americans and over 30 All-ACC honorees.

An 11-time national champion as a player and assistant coach, Van Arsdale was presented with a No. 11 jersey by Starsia. 

Van Arsdale brought his offensive brilliance to UVA in 1991 under Adams and remained on staff under Starsia beginning in 1992. Between two stints as offensive coordinator, Van Arsdale spent 15 years at UVA, including his final 10 as an associate head coach. During his tenure in Charlottesville, Van Arsdale and the Cavaliers captured three NCAA championships in 2003, 2006 and 2011, made 10 Championship Weekend appearances, and competed in five national championship games. 

Van Arsdale led a number of the most prolific offenses the sport has ever seen, including the unbeaten 2006 squad. His offenses also set the program’s single-season goals record in three consecutive seasons from 1994-96. 

In total, Van Arsdale has mentored four Tewaaraton Trophy winners, including UVA’s Chris Rotelli, Matt Ward and Steele Stanwick, as well as 89 All-Americans and 49 All-ACC Team selections.   

Van Arsdale won four national championships as a player at Hobart College and was named MVP of the 1983 and 1985 NCAA championship games. He also went on to win four more national titles as an assistant coach with the Statesmen. Van Arsdale earned Phi Beta Kappa honors and graduated magna cum laude from his undergraduate studies.

During the halftime ceremony, Van Arsdale was joined by his wife, Karen; their daughter, Elise, and her husband, Mike; as well as their son, Owen—who was a member of UVA’s 2011 national championship team – along with his wife, Alex, and their son, Max.