Monmouth Alumnus Thomas Van Alstine Named Men's Lacrosse Coach
MONMOUTH, Ill. (09/23/2021) — Monmouth College alumnus Thomas Van Alstine has been named the Fighting Scots new men's lacrosse coach.
Van Alstine, a 2020 graduate, returns to lead a program he helped build.
"The opportunity is what brought me back to Monmouth," said Van Alstine. "I know what these guys are capable of. I was fortunate enough to play with a handful of them so I know the personnel I'm getting. They were so close to winning a conference championship last year and with this base of talent heading into the 2022 season."
A double major in economics and Spanish, Van Alstine has coached lacrosse at multiple levels. He coached club teams for Yeti Lacrosse in West Dundee, Illinois, working specifically with the 12- and the 14-year-old youth players but also working with the older players. Last spring, he coached the Wauconda High School team, falling in the first round of the Illinois High School Association Lake Forest Sectional.
"We think Thomas brings an excellent combination of playing experience and coaching experience," said Monmouth Director of Athletics Roger Haynes. "We look forward to the ability and energy he brings as he leads the program."
Van Alstine succeeds Chris Klaiber, the coach that recruited him to Monmouth. Van Alstine played 31 games under Klaiber, who is now the head coach at Aquinas College in Michigan.
"It is a little strange to be replacing my former coach but I learned so much from him," said Van Alstine. "He passed on so much lacrosse knowledge to me and I watched the way he carried himself on and off the field with us. I'm excited for the challenge and Coach Klaiber has already reached out to congratulate me and told us to 'go get 'em."
A McHenry, Illinois, native, Van Alstine ranks second on the Scots' career list for points (87), goals (69) and goals per game (2.22). He was passed in all three categories last spring by Jeff Knapp (Nolensville, Tennessee), a player he will coach in 2022.
Van Alstine scored at least 20 goals in all three seasons he played at Monmouth. He netted 28 goals with 10 assists in 2018 and was off to a fantastic start in 2020 with 20 goals in five games before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the season. His single-game record of seven goals was also broken by Knapp last spring.
"There's no one else I'd have rather had break my record than Jeff," said Van Alstine. "I was stoked for him and I'm sure he's going to erase me from more record books this season and we'll have some fun with it. His leadership in the locker room this season will be key for us and I'm excited to be able to coach him."
The Scots went 6-3 in a shortened 2021 season, with all three losses coming to the University of Northwestern-Minnesota. The Scots were 4-2 in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference and 3-1 at April Zorn Stadium. Monmouth qualified for the MLC playoffs for the first time in program history in 2021. The Scots beat Cornell 14-6 in the conference semifinals before falling at Northwestern in the championship.
Van Alstine will get to see his team in action for the first time with fall practices in October. The 2022 schedule has not yet been announced but is expected to start in late February or early March.
"We have a late start but we have a veteran crew and I know they will come into practice ready to go," said Van Alstine. "The goal is a conference championship and hopefully the guys come in prepared and we can hit the ground running working on the offensive structure and the defense as we work to take the next step."
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