DENVER -- The Metropolitan State University of Denver club men’s lacrosse is pleased to announce the hiring of David Leach as its new head coach..

Before joining MSU Denver, Leach was the head coach for Johnson and Wales University Denver from 2013-17. The Wildcats were a new program that Leach built from the ground up through recruiting. Each season of his tenure saw J&W ready to compete against larger programs, narrowly missing the playoffs -- an impressive accomplishment for a new program.

Prior to Johnson and Wales, Leach was co-head coach at Regis (Denver) University from 2010-12 and assistant coach at Colorado from 2008-10.

During his time with the Buffs, the team was a three-time national tournament qualifier, twice finishing in the national semifinals.

He is also the current vice president of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC) -- an elected-position he has maintained since 2008.

During his collegiate career, Leach was a three-time all-conference midfielder at Western Colorado from 2001-03. Leach was also a team captain his junior and senior years.

“We are very fortunate to have a coach like Dave Leach with us," said MSU Denver club sports director David Lamothe. "Dave has, for a long time, been a well-respected figure within the lacrosse community, and knows how to lead men. His teams of the past were always gritty, tough, and smart. His perspective, on our daily operations will be refreshing and valuable as we move our program to the next level.”

Leach is eager to get back into the game.

“This is a really exciting time for the Metro State Denver lacrosse program and I can’t wait for the season to get under way," he said. "I look forward to not only helping at practices and on game days, but also the behind the scene tasks you never hear about. The mentoring, encouraging, and the ups and downs that builds champions.”

The MSU men’s lacrosse team begins practice on Jan. 18 with 13 games on the schedule as well as two early-season scrimmages at the University of Denver and a spring break trip to North Carolina. The team has 14 new players this season, along with eight returning.