Conry Hires DeCola to Complete 2027 Coaching Staff
7/6/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's lacrosse head coach Kevin Conry announced Monday (July 6) the hiring of Jacob DeCola as an assistant coach.
"I am very excited about the addition of Coach DeCola," said Conry. "He brings an incredible passion for the game of lacrosse and a championship mentality. His ability and experience will be an incredible asset for our young men."
DeCola brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to Michigan, including spending the last 17 as the head coach at Albion College. DeCola was the first head coach in program history, starting the 2010 season with just 16 players before the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association adopted the sport in 2013. During his time at Albion, he led the team to six NCAA postseason appearances and a conference-record six MIAA Championships while coaching the Brits to five MIAA regular-season titles.
"First, I want to thank the University of Michigan, Coach Conry and his staff for this incredible opportunity," said DeCola. "I am so excited to be a part of Michigan lacrosse, and I am thrilled to coach in the Big Ten. It has been incredible to watch the Wolverine lacrosse program develop over the years and being part of this growth is something I'm really excited about. In this new role, I am really looking forward to continuing to develop players to their highest potential."
DeCola recorded a 171-115 overall record and an impressive 71-10 record in conference action. He has coached 51 All-MIAA selections, including 33 first-team picks with six Defensive Most Valuable Players, four Offensive MVPs, including the 2026 offensive MVP, and four Rookie of the Year honorees.
Additionally, DeCola has coached two individual Albion Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and the 2015 team, which is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026. DeCola, along with the rest of his staff, was selected to coach the 2025 USILA Division III Senior All-Star Game, while four of his players have been selected to play in the game under his tutelage.
DeCola and his staff earned IMLCA Region 5 Coaching Staff of the Year accolades in 2022 after producing a 15-4 overall record and winning their fifth MIAA Tournament title. Two of DeCola's players have led the nation in ground balls per game, while one led all of Division III in man-up goals.
DeCola's programs have also shown success in the classroom, as nine players were named USILA Scholar All-Americans and 73 have been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Additionally, three teams were awarded the USILA Academic Team Award. In 2015, DeCola and his squad were awarded the National Intercollegiate Officials Association District 6 James "Ace" Adams Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to the 11 programs whose coaches, players and fans exhibit the best sportsmanship throughout the season.
Before building the program at Albion, DeCola spent five years at Guilford College, where he was the defensive coordinator and top assistant. His defensive units produced seven All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honorees while competing consistently against the top 20 teams in the nation.
DeCola graduated in 1995 from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, where he was a four-year starter in goal with a nationally ranked save percentage. He was named a captain in his senior season and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture. Following graduation, DeCola earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Utah and served as head coach at East High School in Salt Lake City.
