As head coach of the University of Dallas men's lacrosse team, Matt O'Connell helped the Crusaders post a 2011 record of 4-10 in the program's inaugural season. In a span stretching from Mar. 12 - Apr. 9, 2011, Dallas netted a 4-1 record, wherein the team amassed a three game winning streak by defeating the likes of Marymount College (Calif.), St. Edward's University, and Dordt College (Iowa). 

O'Connell -- a 2006 graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland -- played lacrosse all four years for the Red Dragons, a program with which he had integral roles in winning NCAA DIII national championships as both a player and coach; upon graduation, he worked as an assistant lacrosse coach for his alma mater. He also served as an assistant coach at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, N.Y., prior to his Dallas appointment. 

In his playing career at SUNY Cortland, O'Connell finished with 140 points on 66 goals and 74 assists. During his heralded 'national championship' senior campaign, he tallied 62 points on 31 goals and 31 assists, and for his efforts garnered such accolades as SUNYAC Lacrosse Conference 'Player of the Year', ECAC Upstate Men's Lacrosse 'Player of the Year', 'First Team' All-SUNYAC Conference, SUNYAC 'Tournament MVP', and 'Second Team' All-America. He played his high school lacrosse at West Genesee, a perennial lacrosse powerhouse in Upstate New York.  

Coach O'Connell can be reached at: moconnell@udallas.edu or 972-265-5778.