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by Jac Coyne | MCLA.us

It’s never easy to say goodbye, but that’s what the MCLA did with several programs recently when a contingent of NAIA programs opted to step away from their membership in our association to concentrate on their newly-formed league.

This departure has brought about several people asking me, “What does this mean for the MCLA?”

I interpret this question to be an existential one. What is the fate of Division II with 14 programs – four of which qualified for the MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour – leaving en masse?

It’s a reasonable query. While the MCLA membership has seen programs find different homes in the past – teams like Michigan, Hope, Calvin, Coast Guard, etc. – it has never had this large of an exodus in one year. It’s understandable to get a little jumpy.

To be quite honest, the NAIA emigration does cause some logistical headaches, especially in the CCLA and GRLC. Those two conferences were heavy with NAIA schools, which will mandate some creative and strategic thinking to keep them viable long-term.

Alas, the MCLA has dealt with far bigger challenges and has survived quite nicely.

From my perspective, the NAIA setting out on its own is a testament to not only the quality of the MCLA, but also acts as a reaffirmation of the huge role that the association plays in the greater lacrosse landscape.

Why is it a testament?

Simply put, NAIA lacrosse would not have its own national invitational tournament today without the MCLA. Note the lack of qualifiers in that statement; no ‘probably,’ ‘might,’ or ‘potentially.’ It would not exist at this point, period. This is certainly opinion, but one that has no realistic opposing arguments.

The MCLA shouldn’t break its arm patting itself on the back, but it should certainly show a measure of pride. Due to the comprehensive requirements to join the various MCLA leagues and the academic requirements set in place, our organization provides the best opportunity for serious non-varsity – or in the case of the NAIA, non-sanctioned – programs to grow to the point of opening other opportunities.

And the MCLA has always been about opportunity. It’s our calling card. Whether it’s at the micro level with players finding the perfect college experience while still playing lacrosse, or at the macro level where schools can create a viable varsity structure, the MCLA provides that.

This gets to the second point: the confirmation of the MCLA's role in the greater lacrosse landscape.

We can now add the NAIA to the list of lacrosse opportunities that we’ve provided. This list includes the Big 10 conference, which would not currently be online without the platform the MCLA provided Michigan to make the jump. The NEWMAC (thanks to Coast Guard) and the MIAA (with the likes of Calvin and Hope) are both automatic bid conferences in NCAA Division III thanks to the MCLA. Next year, Grove City will make the President’s Athletic Conference an NCAA Pool A league for the first time ever and Palm Beach Atlantic will further strengthen the Sunshine State Conference.

This list will be ever-expanding, hence there is no need for pearl-clutching due to this recent NAIA departure. Rather, the MCLA should embrace its role as the foundation of lacrosse growth. The concept of “growing the game” has morphed into a bit of a banality at this point, but it has always been a bedrock principle of the MCLA, and we should hold the torch high.

We’re losing 14 great programs who have been proud members of the MCLA. This means we are doing great things and we will continue to do great things, regardless of the attrition rate. Good luck to our NAIA brothers, as they are now extensions of us.