New UVA men’s lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany names coaching staff

UVA men’s lacrosse head coach Lars Tiffany announced today that Sean Kirwan and Kip Turner have joined the Cavaliers’ coaching staff.

Both Kirwan and Turner served on Tiffany’s staff at Brown. Turner is a 2007 graduate of Virginia and was a member of the Cavaliers’ 2006 NCAA title team.

“The excitement of taking on this new position as the head coach at the University of Virginia grows exponentially for me as I announce the hiring of Kip Turner and Sean Kirwan,” Tiffany said.  “Kip has proven himself to be one of the best goalie and faceoff coaches in the nation and Sean has certainly distinguished himself among his peers for his innovative schemes for attacking opposing defenses.

“We have a truly unique relationship as a staff.  In addition to the complimentary blend of lacrosse specific skills and knowledge, we trust each other and communicate in a manner that is both positive and constructive.  While the three of us recognize we have much to learn as we make the transition to Charlottesville, I know Virginia lacrosse and the men of our program are better positioned with the three of us coming as a unit.”

Kirwan spent two seasons at Brown running the offense under Tiffany. Under Kirwan’s tutelage in 2016, the Brown offense was potent, leading the nation with 16.32 goals per game. Dylan Molloy was the recipient of the 2016 Tewaaraton Trophy and was named by the USILA its most outstanding player and attackman of the year. Kirwan helped change the landscape of college lacrosse in 2015 with a unique fast break offense that scored 237 goals, averaging 13.94 goals per game, fifth best in the nation.

Kirwan perfected his offensive approach at his alma mater, Tufts, guiding the Division III Jumbos’ offense to an NCAA-leading 423 goals in 2014, the most all-time by any team in NCAA lacrosse history (all divisions).  His Tufts squad also led the nation in team goals and assists (251).  Kirwan coached three 100+ point scorers, the first time in NCAA history that three players from one team scored over 100 points in the same season.

A native of New Jersey, where he attended Mountain Lakes High School, Kirwan graduated from Tufts in 2012, where he broke single season and career goal scoring records with 66 goals in 2011 and 150 career goals. An All-American in 2011 and 2012, he was also an Academic All-American and team captain in 2012 as well as winning the NCAA Division III National Championship with the school in 2010.

Turner, a two-time USILA All-American goalie at UVA, joined the Brown coaching staff as an assistant in 2010.  In 2016 under Turner’s guidance, Brown goalie Jack Kelly was named the nation’s most outstanding goalie and the winner of the 2016 Senior CLASS award for men’s lacrosse.

At Brown, Turner helped develop All-Ivy goalies Matt Chriss and Will Round, as well as a slew of young goalkeepers on the Bears squad, including Kelly, who matured into an All-American and a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection. Turner also was the face-off coach for the Bears, developing Will Gural into one of the top face-off men in the nation in 2015 and 2016.

Turner also practiced his trade in the professional ranks, including leading the Chesapeake Bayhawks to two consecutive MLL Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Turner was originally selected second overall in the Major League Lacrosse draft by the Boston Cannons, the highest goalie ever picked in a draft.  He made an immediate impact, being named the Cannons’ Defensive MVP in 2008. A three-time MLL Defensive Player of the Week in 2010, Turner was named the MLL Goalkeeper of the Year for his outstanding play. Turner was also selected the starting goalie in the MLL All-Star game in 2013. After a nine-year stint in the MLL, Turner decided to retire in the spring of 2016.

A 2007 graduate of the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in government, Turner was a four-year letterwinner for the Cavaliers.  He was the UVA defensive MVP in 2006, leading the Cavaliers to the ACC Championship and NCAA title.  Turner was an All-ACC first team selection in 2007, and named to the All-ACC Tournament team in 2006 and 2007.

Turner was inducted into the Severn High School Hall of Fame in the spring of 2016 for his achievement in soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse. Turner is married to Emy Deyhle Turner.