25-21 overall - 3 seasons
Brian Anken enters his fourth season at the helm of Lycoming College men's lacrosse program in the 2009-10 academic year. In the past two seasons, Anken has guided the team to a 22-11 overall record and 14-3 in the Middle Atlantic Conference, earning first-round byes in 2008 and 2009 and two straight appearances in the conference semifinals.
Coach Anken is one of the most successful coaches in the program. In his first three seasons, he has amassed an 18-9 Middle Atlantic Conference record, placing him second in conference wins behind Gene Peluso (21-8) who founded the program.
In 2009, the Warriors set a new mark for consecutive games won, at 10, and finished tied for first in the MAC at the end of the regular season. Since coming to Lycoming for the 2007 spring season, Anken has coached eight players that have been named to the All-Conference team, including three first-teamers and five second-teamers.
Following the 2008 season, Anken was named Coach of the Year for the MAC, thanks to the sixth-best improvement in the nation from 2007 to 2008, which was sparked by two national leaders. Dan Cannon led the nation in points per game with 5.69 and Mike Doherty led the country in ground balls per game with 11.06.
Anken came to Lycoming from Mars Hill College in North Carolina, where he served three years as head coach. In his first season with the Lions, Anken was recognized as the 2004 Deep South Conference Coach of the Year.
In 2005, his team set a program record for conference wins and final conference standing. 2005 also marked the second straight season in which Anken coached the league's Rookie of the Year.
In 2006, Anken guided the Lions to a 10-5 regular season record, establishing new overall and conference win records. The Lions finished tied for first in the DSC with a 7-2 mark. Four players earned All-Conference honors, including the program’s first DSC Player of the Year. Anken became the winningest lacrosse coach at Mars Hill in 2006 while leading his team to their first national ranking (11th).
During his tenure at Mars Hill, Anken served on the USILA All-American Committee and Ranking Committee. He also served as chairman of the Deep South Lacrosse Conference from 2005–2006. Anken came to Mars Hill from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he served as head assistant coach and defensive coordinator for one year.
While Anken was at RIT, the Tigers held a top-20 national ranking and finished second in the Empire Eight Conference. Prior to RIT, Anken was head assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina. At Pfeiffer he assisted the Falcons to a top ten national ranking and a second place finish in the Deep South Conference.
Anken has also coached at West Seneca and Clarence high schools, located in Buffalo, New York.
An outstanding goaltender and scholar athlete at Medaille College in Buffalo, Anken’s coaching philosophy focuses on the importance of academics and proper strength and conditioning. Anken holds a certification in strength training and is the founder of the New York based Athletic Enhancement Training Center where he designed and implemented training routines for high school, college, and professional athletes. He takes pride in the physical and mental development of his players. Anken’s goal is to build a nationally recognized lacrosse program at Lycoming College.
A native of West Seneca, N.Y., Anken currently resides in Williamsport, Pa.
