Jackson, MS – The Millsaps Men's Lacrosse Team began practice earlier this week, as the 2016 season is set to begin next month.
 
The Majors are continuing to build upon a program that has progressively and positively grown since Coach John Hoeffler arrived in the fall of 2013.  As the Majors prepare for another season, they welcome the addition of several new players, coaches and expectations.
 
The 2016 schedule starts with an away game against Piedmont before the Majors open at home against Hope.  Following a pair of home games at Harper Davis Field, the Majors travel to Texas – a familiar place for many members of Millsaps Lacrosse.
 
"We travel to Texas every other year to play Southwestern and Dallas," Head Men's Lacrosse Coach John Hoeffler said.  "They are the only NCAA teams in the state so we travel there every other year - it's important for us."
 
The importance of the road trip out west is easy to see too, given that six members of the team are from the Lone Star State, including three freshmen.  The trip to Texas not only provides a homecoming for several Majors, but also provides a chance for Millsaps Lacrosse to continue expanding through recruiting.
 
"Texas just provides a lot of solid athletes that have good lacrosse I.Q.," Coach Hoeffler said.  "That ability translates well to the college game so that's why we're always trying to make an impact there."
 
The Majors field a team that welcomes eight freshmen, most of whom played for high school championship programs.
 
"We've brought in recruits from schools like Greenhill and Highland Park, state championships are associated with those Texas programs," Coach Hoeffler said.  "It transitions over to Louisiana too.  We brought in two guys from Jesuit who won State Championships last year as well, that gives us a great boost moving forward with the program."
 
Coach Hoeffler and his staff have worked to expand Millsaps Lacrosse in gaining regional exposure with road trips to places like Texas, but they also gain the benefit of hosting some nationally recognized programs right here at Harper Davis Field as well.
 
"We want to continue growing through hosting some big time programs," Coach Hoeffler said.  "Last year we had Goucher come down to play us.  That's a well-respected program that Coach (Brian) Kelly has built up to be nationally recognized.
 
"This year we have Daniel Webster coming down to play us at Christian Brothers in Memphis.  These types of games help us tap into the northeast more in terms of recruiting.  We're looking forward to playing in Memphis too, that's an area we want to keep expanding and growing with recruiting."
 
Regardless of the hometown or high school, the newcomers to Men's Lacrosse can count on the experience and leadership from the senior class.  Millsaps fields four seniors this year including Scholar All-American and All-SAA selection Jack Houtz.  Houtz led the team last season in scoring, ground balls and faceoff wins with 109.
 
"He's a jack of all trades," Coach Hoeffler said.  "Jack does it all, takes faceoffs, gets groundballs, defense, offense – you ask him to do something and he'll do it. His efforts were awarded last year by being named the program's first Scholar All-American so we're looking for him to have another great year for us."

 
Millsaps Lacrosse welcomes the first full time assistant coach in program history this season.  Ryan McKay, an alumni and former player for the Majors begins his first season working with Coach Hoeffler and the Majors.  McKay is a former three-time captain and the all time assists leader for Millsaps Lacrosse.
 
McKay is one of three new members on the coaching staff this season, as the Majors welcome the additions of another alumni in Will Oakley and former lacrosse stand out John Haire.
 
"The school has supported us in being able to grow the program and making some new hires," Coach Hoeffler said.  "It helps with having an alum and former player like Ryan coach with us in growing the program and developing the younger players.
 
"Will Oakley, another proud alum is on board as a Graduate Assistant while he's earning his MBA here at Millsaps.  We also have John Haire, a two-time All-American and two-time captain from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania as our volunteer coach."
 
With new faces on both the coaching staff and roster this season, the Majors are excited to continue growing Millsaps Lacrosse.  With expanded recruiting efforts and a great support from the school, the ultimate goal of competing for a conference championship is not far off either.
 
"We're on pace with the growth of the program," Coach Hoeffler said.  "Everything is going according to plan, regardless of how difficult the plan might be.
 
"I think we're past the growing pains too.  We brought in a strong recruiting class with our freshmen this year, I'm very pleased with every single one of them and how they're growing and developing.  I'm very excited to see the direction of this program, I see us competing for a conference championship in the near future."
 
The Majors begin regular season play in Demorest, Georgia Feb. 7th against Piedmont.