Dartmouth Big Green Men's Lacrosse History & Highlights

The Dartmouth Big Green men's lacrosse team represents Dartmouth College in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse. Competing as a member of the Ivy League, the team plays its home games at the Scully–Fahey Field in Hanover, New Hampshire. The program's history dates back to 1926, when Dartmouth fielded its first lacrosse team.

History of the Big Green

The Tom Dent Era

Head Coach Tom Dent led the program for its first 35 seasons, serving until his retirement in 1960. Although recruited to Dartmouth to coach soccer, Dent took on the challenge of coaching the first lacrosse team despite having no prior experience in the sport. Under his leadership, the team became a regional power during the 1940s, securing nine New England championships in just 11 years. Dent finished his tenure with a record of 188 wins, 141 losses, and 4 ties.

Beyond winning, Coach Dent was deeply invested in the character of his players. In his memory, the team bestows an annual award to a senior player who demonstrates the ideals of Tom Dent through aggressive play, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

1961–2014 Ivy League Success and Upsets

The Big Green secured Ivy League championships in 1964, 1965, and 2003. Until the introduction of a conference tournament in 2010, these titles were determined by conference records.

In 1999, Dartmouth named Rick Sowell as head coach, making him the first African-American Head Coach in Division I lacrosse. Sowell oversaw a significant turnaround in the program's fortunes. A defining moment occurred on April 26, 2003, when unranked Dartmouth stunned #2 Princeton 13-6. This victory propelled the team to an Ivy League title and their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2003, where they were eliminated in the first round by Syracuse (13‑11), a game highlighted by a goal scored by goalie Andrew Goldstein.

Following Sowell, Bill Wilson coached the team from 2004 to 2009. During his six-year stint, he compiled a 40-44 record and coached nine first-team all-league players. His tenure included signature wins over fourth-ranked Maryland in 2005 and top-10 ranked Notre Dame and Princeton in 2008.

Andy Towers became the ninth head coach in 2010. In 2013, Dartmouth achieved another major upset by defeating #9 Princeton 10-9 at Scully-Fahey Field. The game was characterized by a late-game surge, with freshman Cam Lee scoring the winning goal.

The Brendan Callahan Era

Brendan Callahan took over in August 2014. His tenure was marked by highs and lows, including a double overtime victory over Harvard on March 21, 2015, where freshman Jack Korzelius scored the winning goal. However, the program struggled between 2016 and 2018, going winless in 18 consecutive Ivy League contests.

The program saw a resurgence in 2023, achieving its first non-losing season since 2006, finishing with a 6-6 record. This included a 10-9 overtime win against Harvard, marking their first Ivy League victory since 2015. Following the 2023 season, the college parted ways with Brendan Callahan.

The Sean Kirwan Era

Following the departure of Callahan, Dartmouth hired Sean Kirwan, formerly the offensive coordinator at Virginia, to lead the program into its next chapter.