Bellarmine has named Andy Whitley as its new men’s lacrosse coach.

Whitley, an assistant at Fairfield for the last 10 seasons, inherits from predecessor Jim Mitchell a team that has not had a winning season since 2014 and which stands to lose Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Riley Seay, who reportedly entered the NCAA’s transfer portal last month.

“With the elevation of the entire athletic department to Division I status, the men's lacrosse program is poised take a leadership role in advancing the university vision now and into the future,” Whitley said in a press release issued by Bellarmine.

Whitley's other coaching experience includes a three-year stint at Yale along with serving the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut and Wesleyan University. He also serves an assistant coach for the Puerto Rican national team.

Whitley plans to retain assistant coaches Kyle Bernlohr and Steve Soriano.

“He has distinguished himself in the lacrosse profession, and likewise, distinguished himself in our search process,” Bellarmine president Dr. Susan Donovan said in the release. “I look forward to Coach Whitley and Knights competing at a national level in the very near future”

“Andy’s experience, professionalism and zeal for college lacrosse make him an outstanding fit for Bellarmine,” athletic director Scott Wiegandt said.

Bellarmine announced in June that it’s making the jump to Division I in all of its 22 sports. The men’s lacrosse program, which has competed at the Division I level since its 2005 inception, will remain in the Southern Conference. The Knights’ 21 other sports will join the Atlantic Sun Conference.

College Crosse and Inside Lacrosse first reported the news of Whitley’s hiring.

The lone head coaching vacancy remaining in Division I is at Hampton. Former Pirates coach Lloyd Carter retired at the end of June.