BUZZARDS BAY, MA -- At the conclusion of the Buccaneer men's lacrosse historic 2022 campaign, head coach Rick Bagby announced his retirement from coaching at the academy. Shortly thereafter, Bagby's successor was named as assistant coach Mike Smith was elevated to head coach by Director of Athletics Mike Kelley. 

"We are excited to announce Coach Smith as the next Buccaneer men's lacrosse head coach. It provides continuity and consistency to the program,``said Kelley. "Mike has been a large part of this team's success as an assistant during his time with the Bucs and we look forward to what he can provide to our men's lacrosse program as their next head coach."

Mike Smith began his playing career at South Hadley High School in South Hadley, MA, where he played lacrosse, football, and hockey. He captained all three varsity teams, including his State Championship lacrosse team in 2004.

He continued his playing career at Springfield College as a four year starter, four-time All-NEWMAC selection, and made four straight NCAA tournament appearances. His senior year, he was awarded All-New England honors and played in the USILA North/South game. 

Mike began his coaching career with a short stint at his alma mater, South Hadley High School before he moved on to Marshfield High School where he coached varsity boys lacrosse and was the Head of Strength and Conditioning from 2011-2017. In 2018, he began his collegiate coaching career at Massachusetts Maritime Academy as an Offensive Coordinator.

In addition to coaching collegiately, Mike coaches at the international level as a member of the US Virgin Islands Men's Lacrosse National Team coaching staff. Outside of lacrosse, he is a physical education teacher and a private sector Strength and Conditioning coach, where he works primarily with high school and collegiate athletes, as well as members of the LEO/MIL/SWAT community.

"I am honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy men's lacrosse program. I want to thank Mike Kelley and Rear Admiral McDonald for this incredible opportunity. Since Coach Rick Bagby hired me as an assistant in 2017, I have come to appreciate what a special place The Academy is, as well as the determination and resilience of our student-athletes. I look forward to continuing to help them achieve their goals on and off the field." Said Smith.

Smith inherits a team of young and talented lacrosse players who are coming off of a 5-3 Little East Conference performance, a playoff win against Eastern Connecticut State and a semifinals appearance against UMass Boston in which the team lost 21-20 in the final 10 seconds of the game against the seventh ranked team in New England. The 41 goals in the game is an LEC single-game record for goals in the playoffs.