WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- After six years at the helm, Dan Sahm has stepped down as head coach of the Purdue men’s lacrosse team.

He has made the decision so he can spend more time with his family and focus on his career in Indianapolis. He still plans to help the team at an administrative level with season scheduling, alumni relations and other aspects.

The Purdue alum stepped up and took over the program in the 2018-2019 season when the Boilermakers had a rough couple of seasons after he graduated in 2016. During his coaching stint in West Lafayette, he posted a record of 29-34, which includes a 23-14 overall conference record. He helped coach 28 UMLC all-conference players, nine of which were First team all-conference selections. He also received the 2023 UMLC Division I Coach of the Year award.

“I can’t thank this team enough for letting me coach them these past few years,” said Sahm. “It has truly been an honor and some of the best years of my life to be with this group almost every day, working hard to become better players and fighting to achieve the same goal. They’ve all grown not just as players, but as young men, and I can’t be more proud of them. I am looking forward to seeing the program continue to grow and build and I wish them all the best.”

The time and effort Sahm has provided the Purdue team comes in many forms. As an All-American player, team president and head coach, he has boosted the trajectory of the program for future years. Finding frequent visits to the UMLC conference tournament under his coaching, the team builds on the foundation left by Sahm with sights on winning the UMLC tournament and competing at the MCLA national tournament.

“There’s no one I’d rather have coaching me for my time at Purdue,” says Wyatt Bucki, former team president and captain. “Sahm truly cared for and loved the team wholeheartedly. He not only helped me become a better lacrosse player, but a better person and leader as well. Sahm helped turn this team into a family and we are all super thankful for the time he has spent with us.”

“Coach Sahm has been a big motivator for me,” says Lucas Bentley, current team president and defenseman. “He’s always pushing us to be better players and better people off the field as well. His dedication to us, the team, and to the game rubs off on everyone and helps bring a certain energy to every practice, game, or team bonding event. His dedication helps a lot of guys on the team, including myself, taking on more responsibilities within the team, or academically. He’s been a huge role model and he’s helped the team grow a lot during his time here.”

Offensive coordinator Cam VanHouten, who has been with the program since the 2020 season, is also stepping down at Purdue. He has helped produce some of the highest scoring offenses in Purdue lacrosse history. In 2022, the team broke the school record for most goals scored in a season with 180, which was previously at 177 goals for in 2016. Cam is also a director for the club program, True Lacrosse Indiana, and is going to continue to focus on that and help grow the program in Indiana.

Ian Wolfe, the team’s defensive coordinator for the 2024 season, will be taking over as Purdue’s next head coach. Wolfe served as the head coach of Columbia College, an NAIA school in Missouri, from 2017 to 2023. While there, he helped lead the Cougars to two conference championships and their first trip to the NAIA National Invitational Tournament and helped produce six All-Americans. The team hopes to continue the growth fostered by Sahm as they look to compete for championships in the future.

“Forever and always, Boiler Up!”