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  Eric Koch
Alma Mater: Washington & Lee '05 | Overall Record: 16-5 (1 Year) | Record at Denison: 16-5 (1 Year)
Eric Koch will begin his second season as the Head Coach of the Denison University men's lacrosse program in 2023.
In Koch's first season coaching the team in 2022, Denison earned its 20th North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship in program history with a perfect 9-0 conference record. The Big Red then outscored Kenyon College 8-0 in the second half to capture the NCAC Tournament Championship by a final score of 12-5. It was Denison's seventh overall and sixth straight NCAC Tournament title. After finishing with two wins and a combined 21 saves with only 14 goals allowed in two games, junior goalkeeper Archer Darrach was named the NCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Senior Camden Bowdy was named the NCAC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year and was a USILA Third-Team All-American while fellow-senior Davis Cronin was the NCAC Specialist of the Year and was an Honorable Mention All-American along with sophomore defender Brooks Crowley. Lastly, for the 26th time in program history and for the sixth time in a row, Denison men's lacrosse competed in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, earning a 14-13 win over Grove City in the second round thanks to the game-winning goal by sophomore Nate Kay.
Koch is the eighth coach in Denison's history of the men's lacrosse program. He came to Denison after seven seasons at Washington and Lee University, where he began as an assistant coach in 2014 before being elevated to Assistant Head Coach in 2018. During his time coaching at W&L, the Generals went 94-43 (.686) and won three Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular-season titles, two conference tournament titles, and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament.
In 2018, Koch was named Assistant Head Coach at W&L and served as the team's defensive coordinator. His defenses were some of the best in the country during his time leading the defensive unit. In his first year in this new role, Koch's defense led the ODAC in goals-against average (GAA) with 8.20, which also ranked in the top 50 of Division III. In 2019, Koch's defense climbed toward the top of the national rankings with the Generals taking the top spot for their man-down defense (.869) and the third spot in defensive scoring, allowing only 6.48 goals per game. In 2020, W&L ranked second in the conference in goals-against average with 6.80 and led the conference in save percentage with 64.9.
Over his time at W&L, Koch coached 16 defensive players to All-ODAC honors, and nine players earned All-American status. He was named to the IMLCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
Before returning to his alma mater, Koch coached at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he spent five seasons as part of the Duck's staff. Over his five seasons, Stevens went 63-25, made three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and won one Empire 8 Conference title in 2012. During this time, Koch earned his Master of Science in Management degree at Stevens.
Koch graduated from Washington and Lee where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree in 2005. He was a four-year letter winner for the Generals, captaining the team in his senior year. As a defenseman, he was a three-year starter and helped lead the Generals to two ODAC titles and a trip to the 2002 NCAA Semifinals. He was named to the All-ODAC Second Team in 2004 and All-ODAC First Team in 2005. Koch was named Honorable Mention All-America following his senior season.
In addition to his head lacrosse coaching duties, Koch will serve as an assistant professor in Denison's Department of Physical Education.
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