UMBC introduced Ryan Moran as the Retrievers’ new head men’s lacrosse coach during a press conference held on campus Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Moran is the program’s third head coach since UMBC joined the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) in 1971.

“Ryan Moran is more than ready to take Retriever men’s lacrosse to new heights and once again have our program a contender on the regional and national scene,” said UMBC Athletics Director Tim Hall. “He is intelligent, thoughtful, a fantastic recruiter, an extraordinary strategist, and is completely committed to academic success and the welfare of his athletes. We are excited to welcome him to the UMBC family.”

Moran brings more than ten years of experience as an offensive coordinator and assistant coach across the region, most recently for Loyola University Maryland, where he helped guide the Greyhounds to the 2016 national semifinals. Prior to his appointment at Loyola, Moran spent six seasons at University of Maryland, College Park, rising to the rank of associate head coach during his final two years.

He started his coaching career at the Naval Academy Prep School in 2005, then served on the coaching staff at the U.S. Naval Academy 2006-08, where helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two Patriot League titles.

Moran comes from a lineage of top lacrosse coaches. His father has been a high school coach for more than 30 years, winning his 500th career game in 2014, and his great uncle is a U.S. Lacrosse National Hall of Fame member who led Cornell University to three national titles.

Moran replaces coach Don Zimmerman, who has led the Retrievers for the past 23 years and will retire from the university on July 1, 2016. Zimmerman guided UMBC to six NCAA Division I Championship berths, highlighted by a quarterfinal appearance in 2007.

“An unbelievable debt of gratitude is owed to Don Zimmerman for the work he has done on behalf of UMBC, its student-athletes, and the game of lacrosse—not only at UMBC, but also nationally and internationally,” said Hall. “Don has not only left an indelible mark on the sport of lacrosse, but he has certainly left one at UMBC.”

Coach Moran says he is eager to begin leading the UMBC men’s lacrosse team and continue to build on the legacy left by coach Zimmerman. “I am truly excited and truly honored for this opportunity to lead this great program,” he said.