FERRUM, Va. – Director of Athletics Abe Naff has announced the hiring of Nathaniel (Nat) St. Laurent as its first head men's lacrosse coach. The college recently announced plans to begin a men's lacrosse program, with the first season of competition slated for the 2010-2011 academic year.

St. Laurent comes to Ferrum from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he served the past year as an assistant coach. St. Laurent helped lead Washington and Lee to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament championship this past spring, and a berth in the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament. The Generals advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and closed out the season with a 16-4 record.

At Washington and Lee, St. Laurent assisted with coaching the offensive unit, breaking down film on recruits and opponents, developing game plans and scouting reports. He was a member of the 2009 ODAC Coaching Staff of the Year. St. Laurent also assisted with summer lacrosse camps and tournaments at W&L.

St. Laurent previously spent three years as assistant coach at NCAA Div I Virginia Military Institute also in Lexington. He served as offensive and recruiting coordinator for the Keydets. VMI's offensive unit was ranked nationally under St. Laurent, and was ranked in the top three in every offensive category in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. St. Laurent coached 2008 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, while help leading the Keydets to the schools first ever post season and appearance in the MAAC Championship Game.

Away from lacrosse, St. Laurent has been a special education teacher at Harrington-Waddell Elementary School in Lexington from 2007-09. He spent a year in the same post at Enderly Heights Elementary School in nearby Buena Vista, Virginia.

St. Laurent is a staff sergeant in the United States Army Reserves, based in Charlottesville, Virginia. In this capacity he trains and instructs ROTC cadets for careers in the military. He was the Region's Soldier of the Year in 2008.

St. Laurent played lacrosse collegiately at NCAA Div. III Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. He earned his bachelor's degree in Unified Elementary and Special Education with a concentration in Global Studies in December of 2004. St. Laurent is currently completing work on his master's degree in education from Virginia Tech, studying Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. His anticipated date of graduation is December of 2009.

A native of Carthage, New York, St. Laurent is the son of Joan and Michael Lewis of Carthage. He is married to the former Cristin Cavanaugh. The couple has a seven-month old daughter named Jaylin.

The addition of men's lacrosse brings Ferrum's total sports count to 15 (eight men, seven women). The program should complement the Ferrum women's lacrosse program, which has existed as a varsity sport since the spring of 2000.

St. Laurent begins work immediately at the College. Recruits interested in learning more about the Ferrum men's lacrosse program and our 2010-11 inaugural season may contact Coach St. Laurent at ferrumcollegemenslacrosse@gmail.com.

Ferrum welcomed over 600 new students for the new academic year, increasing total enrollment to 1,400 students for the first time in 25 years. Enrollment this fall is over 50% higher than in 2004 when Ferrum President, Jennifer Braaten, first initiated an enrollment strategy of improved facilities, better communication with prospective students and a strong academic plan.

2009-09-15