EAST LANSING, Mich. – Months after leading Michigan State to its first MCLA National Championship in program history, Cam Holding has announced his resignation as the Spartans head coach after three seasons.

Holding, whose Spartans rolled to an 18-1 overall record and the national crown, is refocusing on his professional lacrosse career.

“I have decided to go back and give all of my efforts into training and playing while I still have a few youthful years left in me,” said Holding, who was chosen by the expansion San Diego Seals in the recent NLL Expansion draft, to Jess Todd at the MSU lacrosse website.

“A couple years ago I was able to play, coach and run my own business, but now with a house, a wife, and a job and playing (so far away from Michigan State), I am unable to continue coaching. I think the team has created a culture that will never change and the players involved in the MSU lacrosse program will continue upholding that culture and standard that has been put in place over the last three years.”

D.J. Lubs, formerly the defensive coordinator for Michigan State, has been elevated to the head coaching position.

“Leaving this year was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make,” Holding continued. “The players are what make the program. We have a very talented group of players and an even better group of people. It is such a great group to be around and that makes coaching that much more fun.”

In his three season with the Spartans, Holding amassed a 37-8 record, three CCLA championships and a 4-2 mark at nationals. He was named the MCLA Coach of the Year presented by the IMLCA at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign.

Michigan State boasted 20 All-Americans, including MCLA player of the year Kevin Boland in 2018 along with the program’s leading scorer Charlie Pistner.

“As a team, we really appreciated all the time and effort that Cam gave us given his own life and career as well as the fact that club lacrosse isn’t the most lucrative job,” said Pistner. “You can tell he truly loves and cares about the game of lacrosse and wants to pass that along to others. It was great to win a national championship together and I speak for the team saying that we wish him the best of luck in San Diego.”

Holding was also a standout player in the MCLA, helping Grand Valley State post a record of 44-6 along with two trips to the MCLA Division II semifinals. In 2011, he had one of the most prolific seasons in the MCLA history with 121 goals and 33 assists (154 points) in 20 games (7.7 ppg).