ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s lacrosse program has announced that Ira Vanderpool and Justin Peterson will act as co-head coaches for the 2018-19 campaign.

The Phoenix, which finished the 2018 campaign with a 2-9 mark and a 1-3 record in the SELC Northeast division, expect the new coaching combo to steer the team toward improved success.

“The club decided that they needed to make a move in a different direction,” said Kent Chance, Elon’s team president.

Vanderpool was a member of Syracuse’s 1995 NCAA Championship team and also played an integral role for the Orange in 1996 and 1997. He served as captain for the Orange in 1998.

Vanderpool played with the Powell brothers and has been voted the PACIS Coach of the Year for five years in a row during his time as the varsity coach for Greensboro (N.C.) Day School.

He was honored by US Lacrosse for winning the NCISAA coach of the year award in 2015. Vanderpool will bring fresh offensive sets and breathe new air into the club.

Peterson, the Phoenix defensive coordinator in 2018, will remain with the team after a solid first year. He is a highly energetic coach who promises to continue to motivate players next season and beyond.

The Elon program expects that this new staff will make it a contender in both the SELC and the MCLA.