Sean Kirwan, Architect of Virginia's Offense, Headed to Dartmouth

Sean Kirwan, the architect behind Virginia’s top-rated offense, has been named as the head men’s lacrosse coach at Dartmouth College.

Kirwan had spent the last nine years working alongside Lars Tiffany, first at Brown for two seasons that included a semifinal appearance in 2016 and the last seven at Virginia that were highlighted by national championships in 2019 and 2021.

“All of us involved with Virginia lacrosse have raised our game and lacrosse IQ due to Sean Kirwan,” Tiffany said in a Dartmouth-issued release. “I am a better coach due to the nine years of X's and O's jam sessions, the in-practice six-versus-six battles and witnessing first-hand how he brought together our offensive personnel and created astounding and startling production.”

Virginia led the nation with an average of 17.24 goals per game this season, setting a school record with 293 goals. Virginia’s offense ranked in the top three nationally in scoring four times under his coaching and he was the 2021 Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year following the Cavaliers’ 2021 national championship season.

“From our first conversation, it became clear that Sean's passion, contemporary vision, humility and steadfast commitment to the student-athlete experience will position our students to maximize their potential on and off the field,” said Dartmouth athletic director Mike Harrity in a release.

Kirwan was named to the position just eight days after Dartmouth announced that Brendan Callahan would not be coming back after going 25-71 since 2015 with the Big Green. Dartmouth is coming off of a 6-6 season, the school’s first .500 season since 2008.

"I am honored to be named the next head men's lacrosse coach at Dartmouth College," Kirwan said. "From the minute my conversations started, it became crystal clear that Mike Harrity and his staff have a vision and enthusiasm that make me a true believer that this is a place where we can accomplish tremendous success together."

Kirwan is familiar with both the New England region and the Ivy League. Kirwan played collegiately at Tufts, helping the Jumbos win the school’s first national championship in 2010 and finished his career with 150 goals, a school record at the time. He then joined Mike Daly’s staff, helping Tufts win the 2014 NCAA Division III championship in a season in which it scored a staggering 423 goals.

As an assistant at Brown, the Bears won the Ivy League both years he was there and in 2016 led the nation in scoring with an average of 16.3 goals per game.

A New Jersey native, Kirwan was a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American at tradition-rich Mountain Lakes High School, and has also coached professionally in both Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League.