Local lacrosse talent will soon have another close collegiate option to consider as Columbia College announced it will add men’s and women’s lacrosse programs starting in 2026.
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Local lacrosse talent will soon have another close collegiate option to consider as Columbia College announced it will add men’s and women’s lacrosse programs starting in 2026.
“This is an incredible moment for Koala Athletics,” said Glen Crawford, the school’s director of athletics. “Adding men’s and women’s lacrosse allows us to elevate our athletics program while bringing more energy and enthusiasm to our campus. Lacrosse is a fast-growing sport with a passionate following, and we’re proud to join this movement right here at Columbia College.”
Columbia College competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is separate from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The school currently offers 18 sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and volleyball.
Lacrosse is the oldest-known team sport in North America and started in various native communities in the 17th century, according to USA Lacrosse. The sport has seen a boom in popularity and high school participation has increased by 100% in the past 20 years, according to data collected by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS.)
The South Carolina High School League officially sanctioned lacrosse as a varsity sport in 2009, and today, many Lexington County athletes play the sport. Some even take their talents to the next level.
Last February, seven local athletes signed to play lacrosse in college. In November nine athletes committed to a college for lacrosse.
Columbia College’s new programs will give some of these athletes another close option to continue their playing career while pursuing an education.
“Columbia College is in a transformative era,” said Dr. John Dozier, President of Columbia College. “Expanding our athletics program reflects our commitment to growth and opportunity. Students, faculty, and alumni are eager for new ways to connect and celebrate together, and lacrosse will infuse fresh spirit and momentum into our campus life. We can’t wait to see the impact of these teams on our community.”
The Koalas have already announced who will lead both teams.
Tom Kinney has been named the men’s lacrosse team head coach. Kinney comes to the school from Raleigh, North Carolina where he served as the assistant men’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division III William Peace University during the 2023-24 season. He specialized in offensive and special teams coaching.
Before that, Kinney coached at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, where he focused on recruiting and coaching goalies from 2021 to 2023.
Mallory Bahr will lead the women’s lacrosse program. Bahr is an experienced head coach, joining the program after two seasons as head coach at Lake Erie College in Ohio from 2023 to 2024.
Bahr also has experience getting programs off the ground, launching the women’s lacrosse program at Spalding University in Kentucky in 2020 at the NCAA Division III level. She also made stops at Johnson & Wales University in Colorado and Tennessee Wesleyan University. During her time there she coached and developed several All-American athletes.
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