DUBUQUE, Iowa --- The University of Dubuque has announced the hiring of Tyler Thomas as its new head men's lacrosse coach. Thomas was previously a graduate assistant for the Spartans. Most recently, Thomas has been at Albion College in Albion, Michigan as an assistant coach (defensive coordinator/face-off coach) since 2022. He also coached the BJ Sports Bandits (U16 & U18) team in Kalamazoo, Michigan since June of 2023.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Thomas back to the UD community," stated Nelson Edmonds, Vice President of Student Engagement and Intercollegiate Athletics Office of Student Life and Intercollegiate Athletics. "He has an awareness of our Mission and commitment to student success, and he has helped multiple players and programs play at a high level on the field. As a former scholar athlete, his experience and mentorship will help us develop our current and future players."
Thomas was part of an Albion team which finished 12-9 in 2025, winning the MIAA Tournament and advancing into the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Thomas was a member of the UD lacrosse staff where they finished the 2022 season 12-8 and a perfect 6-0 in the former Midwest Lacrosse Conference. UD won the automatic qualifier in 2022 and lost in the 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship first round by an 11-6 score to the Albion College Britons.
While a graduate student for UD, Thomas specialized as the defensive coordinator when the Spartans competed in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and the Midwest Lacrosse Conference. He helped lead the Spartans defense to the best defensive season in program history. They finished 10th in NCAA DIII in scoring defense, allowing 7.75 goals per game, fourth in caused turnovers per game (15.85) and 33rd in ground balls with 719. Thomas also coached four defensive all-conference players, the conference defensive player of the year, the conference rookie of the year, multiple academic all-conference players and a NCAA statistical leader in caused turnovers in a season.
"I am honored to be named the next head lacrosse coach at the University of Dubuque, added Thomas. "I am incredibly grateful to President Dr. Travis Frampton and Vice President of Student Engagement and Intercollegiate Athletics Nelson Edmonds for this amazing opportunity. I am excited to return to UD and look forward to leading the program to new heights in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, as well as nationally."
Thomas also coached in the Geneva School District 304 and was the boy's varsity coach from 2016-2020. He was a a member of the Aurora University men's lacrosse team from 2010-2014 where he earned Midwest Lacrosse Conference All-Academic Honors and was an Aurora University Spartans Scholar Athlete in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Thomas is a 2014 graduate of Aurora University and earned his master's degree at UD in 2022. He resides in Dubuque.