Colorado College Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine named Mike Horowitz the 10th head coach in the history of the men’s lacrosse program on Oct. 14, 2021.
Horowitz joins the Tigers after a highly-successful six-year run as an assistant coach at Division I St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where he helped guide the Hawks to four Northeast Conference regular-season championships.
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Horowitz, who joined the SJU staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2014, most recently served as St. Joseph’s defensive coordinator as well as its recruiting coordinator. During his time with the Hawks, Horowitz also was the program’s goaltender coach, face-off unit coordinator, and ride/clear coordinator. At the same time, he coordinated the program’s social media, career development, mentorship and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“I could not be more excited to lead the Colorado College men's lacrosse team,” Horowitz said. “I believe Colorado Springs is home to the most unique lacrosse experience in the entire NCAA. Our mission is to continue to grow this program in pursuit of a national championship and to reflect the special student-athlete experience we can offer at Colorado College.
“We want to play a fast-paced, transition style that puts the game in the hands of the players. To do that, we are going to recruit on a national scale. We will look for elite student-athletes who are completely bought into and excited to be part of this special program we are working so hard to build.”
Horowitz takes over the Colorado College program that has emerged as a national power during the last 10 seasons, when the Tigers posted a 109-42 record and .721 winning percentage.
During the 2021 season, CC posted a 13-4 mark, including a 12-11 overtime victory at No. 5 Christopher Newport University, and earned the program’s first appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship.
Colorado College has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2016 season, when the Tigers overcame an 8-2 halftime deficit to defeat arch-rival Whittier College, 11-10, in overtime in the program's first-ever postseason game at Washburn Field. CC also established itself as the dominant force in the West Region by winning seven of eight Locker-Stabler Cup games against the Poets.
During his six seasons at St. Joseph’s, Horowitz developed goalkeeper T.J. Jones, the 2016 Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and face-off specialist Zach Cole, the 2019 Rookie of the Year. Horowitz also coached four all-conference goalkeepers, four all-conference close defensemen, four all-conference long-stick midfielders, and three all-conference face-off specialists.
Jones, a 2017 Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention Preseason All-American, capped his career as the program's record holder in career victories (31), single-season victories (12), career goals-against average (8.38), and single-season goals against average (7.47). He also ranked third in career saves (502) and sixth in career save percentage (.551).
Under the tutelage of Horowitz, goaltender Mike Adler earned honorable mention all-America honors from Inside Lacrosse in 2020. Adler finished his career ranked fourth in career save percentage (56.9%), fifth in goals against average (9.37), and fifth in career saves (426).
In 2016, Saint Joseph's ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (7.88), eighth in face-off winning percentage (60.8%), and 12th in man-down defense (69.4). That year, Jones set program records in single-season victories (12) and single-season goals against average (7.47), while SJU's goalkeeper group combined for the lowest single-season GAA in program history (7.83).
Prior to his tenure at St. Joseph’s, Horowitz spent two seasons at Pfeiffer University, where he coordinated a defense that ranked sixth in Division II in caused turnovers and helped the Falcons climb to No. 14 in the Division II poll.
Horowitz’s collegiate resume also includes a two-year stop at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he served as goalie coach as well as the team’s ride/clear and recruiting coordinator.
Since 2014, Horowitz has served as an assistant coach with the Israeli National Team. He was the defensive coordinator for the senior national team at the 2018 FIL Men's Lacrosse World Championship and held the same position with the U-19 Israeli National Team.
Horowitz was a three-year starting goaltender at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., where he earned all-Centennial Conference honors during his junior and senior seasons. Horowitz still ranks fifth all-time in career saves (405) and sixth in single-season saves (164).
Horowitz also played both field and box for the Israeli National Teams.
