Brian Voelker - Head Men's Lacrosse Coach - Men's Lacrosse Coaches

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Brian Voelker

Title:
Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
Email:
brian.l.voelker@drexel.edu
Phone:
215-895-1859

Brian Voelker led the Drexel men's lacrosse program for 15 years before retiring in the summer of 2024. Voelker retired as the second-winningest coach in program history compiling a career record of 114-98. During his tenure, the Dragons won two CAA Championships and made four appearances in the CAA title game. Drexel advanced to 12 of 14 CAA tournaments during Voelker's tenure, the most of any CAA school during that time, and won 10 or more games four times.

Voelker, just the sixth head coach in program history, coached 11 All-Americans and had two of his student-athletes named the CAA Player of the Year. He also had two named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and another the Offensive Player of the Year.

Voelker arrived at Drexel in 2010 and the Dragons won 10 games in his first season. Four of those wins came against top 10 teams, including an overtime win against Notre Dame. Four years later, Voelker led Drexel to its first ever CAA Championship and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. Drexel tied a school record with 13 victories including wins over four ranked opponents during the regular season. The Dragons then defeated the fourth-seeded and ninth-ranked Penn Quakers at Franklin Field to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Voelker also led Drexel to the 2021 CAA Championship. The Dragons finished with a 10-3 record and rattled off nine straight wins, including convincing victories in the CAA Semifinals against UMass and in the title game at Hofstra. That earned Voelker a CAA Coach of the Year award. In his 15 seasons, Voelker saw 26 of his players named First Team All-CAA, 27 named Second Team All-CAA and 22 players named to the All-Rookie Team.

The 2014 season will go down as one of the best in school history. The Dragons defeated Towson in overtime in the semifinals and advanced to the title game at Hofstra, where Cole Shafer’s goal in the third overtime gave Drexel its first-ever CAA championship and first NCAA Tournament bid. The Dragons faced Penn at Franklin Field in the first round and defeated the Quakers, 16-11. Drexel fell to No. 2 Denver in the NCAA Quarterfinals, snapping its nine-game winning streak. The Dragons tied the school record for wins in a season (13) and had five players on the All-CAA First Team, including Player of the Year Ben McIntosh. Four Dragons were named All-Americans (Belka, McIntosh, Saputo, Trizano), the most the program has had since 1961.

In 2013, Voelker’s squad was 11-5 record and was one of the top offensive teams in the nation, finishing seventh in the country in scoring and fifth in man-up offense. Robert Church and McIntosh became the fifth and sixth Drexel All-American recipients since he took over the program just four years earlier. Drexel was 8-8 in 2012 and advanced to the CAA title game, where it lost to No. 1 UMass. Voelker became the first coach in the history of Drexel lacrosse to defeat Hofstra, Towson and Delaware in the same season. The Dragons lost by one goal on five occasions, including narrow misses against defending national-champion Virginia (9-8) and Notre Dame (6-5), who advanced to the NCAA semifinals. Three of Voelker’s players were named First Team All-CAA and Dana Wilber was named the CAA’s Defensive Player of Year and a Third Team All-American.

In 2011, DU was 8-6. Three of those losses came to teams ranked in the top 10 and the three other losses were by a combined four goals. Scott Perri was named the CAA Player of the Year and earned All-American status. Teammate Mark Manos became the first back-to-back All-American selection at Drexel since 1961.

Voelker was Penn’s Head Coach for seven seasons before taking the position at Drexel. At Penn, he helped return the Quakers to national prominence. He coached the Quakers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2004, Voelker guided Penn back to the Tournament after a 15-year absence. Two years later, the Quakers recorded their best season since 1988 (10-4 overall, 4-2 Ivy). The four wins were the most Ivy victories for the school in 17 years. He took over as Penn’s 24th men’s lacrosse coach prior to the 2003 season. He led the Quakers to a .500 or better record in three straight seasons in Ivy play for the first time since 1989. Before his arrival, the Quakers had just four .500 seasons in the previous 14 years.

Voelker was the head coach and assistant general manager for the Baltimore Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse before going to Penn. He coached the 2001 National Division championship team and was selected to coach in the MLL’s Inaugural All-Star Game. He previously served for four seasons as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays earned four NCAA berths, including two NCAA Final Fours and an NCAA quarterfinal appearance during his time at Hopkins.

A 1991 Hopkins graduate, Voelker was a defenseman and a three-time All-American for the Blue Jays. He earned First Team All-American honors as a senior, when he served as a captain. During his sophomore season, the Blue Jays advanced to the NCAA championship game. Voelker was part of four NCAA tournament teams. He was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2015. He resides in Ardmore, Pa. with his wife, Laura, and has two children, Jack and Brendan.