(Photos by Lance Wendt)

ATLANTA – The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), the preeminent non-varsity league in North America, is proud to announce that UC Santa Barbara’s Mike Allan and Montana State’s Chris Kelley have been named the Flip Naumburg Coach of the Year in their respective divisions.

The long-time coach for the Gauchos, Allan took a team ranked No. 13 in the preseason and guided them within an overtime goal of the title game at the 2024 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance, finishing with a 12-3 mark.

After starting the season 2-2, UCSB rattled off 10 straight wins – including a dramatic overtime upset of previously undefeated and No. 2 seed Texas in the quarterfinals. The Gauchos fell in the semifinals in overtime to Utah Valley, but Santa Barbara had just four All-Americans on the roster – all third-team selections.

Kelley guided Montana State to the most wins in program history (20-2) and its first national championship as the Bobcats took down St. Thomas, 12-7, in the finals in Round Rock.

Montana State’s two losses were to RMLC rival Air Force in the conference title game and the Tommies in a neutral site game, both by the score of 13-12. The Bobcats routed the Falcons in the national semifinals, 21-4, before taking down St. Thomas.

“Two impressive seasons for both of these coaches,” said MCLA president Ken Lovic. “Coach Allan is no stranger to deep runs in the tournament and Coach Kelley appears to be leading an emerging power in Bozeman.”