GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Great Falls has announced Fred Boekel as the new head coach of the men's lacrosse program.

"It is an honor to be selected as the next men's lacrosse coach at the University of Great Falls," Boekel said. "UGF and the coaches before me have worked hard to build a strong lacrosse tradition, and I look forward to continuing the process."

Boekel boasts a high school coaching career of more than three decades. He most recently served as the varsity offensive coordinator at Castle View (Colo.) High School.

"We are excited to bring Fred on board," said Caleb Schaeffer, UGF assistant athletic director. "We like the energy, passion and success that Fred has achieved and we look forward to having him continue that success here."

He owns an overall record of 229-98 that includes head-coaching stops at Littleton (Colo.) High from 1982-92, Grandview High School from 2002-2010 and Regis Jesuit High School from 2011-13. Boekel also had several stints as an assistant during the past 33 years.

Boekel's Littleton teams won Division II state championships in 1985, 1988 and 1989. His Grandview teams made the playoffs in eight of the nine years he coached.

Boekel has served as president of the Colorado State University Lacrosse Club from 1979-80, founder of South Suburban Lacrosse League, and as a board member and president of the Colorado High School Lacrosse Association and Coaches Association. He founded the Spartan Youth Lacrosse Club in 2004.

He was named the Division I Coach of the Year by the Colorado High School Lacrosse Association in 1991, and the Division II Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986.

A former lacrosse player at Cherry Creek (Colo.) and Colorado State, Boekel graduated from CSU in 1980 with a degree in business administration.

"The lacrosse program has a great group of players to build on and with the commitment shown by the university, I feel there is nothing but upside and potential for the success of the team," Boekel said.