Drexel Lures New Coach Voelker from Penn
from press release
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.
