Coach Ernst is entering his first season at the helm of the Southwestern University's first ever men's lacrosse team. The basic philosophy of Coach Ernst and the Pirate program is not only building strong athletes, but also strong students and strong young men. The coaching staff works hard to ensure that not only do their student-athlete's work hard athletically but also academically and in building maturity. Southwestern University is a place for student-athletes to be challenged on the field and in the classroom. The high academic standards are combined with an expectation of excellence in the classroom and on the playing field and prepares its' student-athletes to be impactful in society upon graduation.
Ernst comes to Southwestern after starting the program at Mercyhurst North East and coaching for five seasons. During his tenure as Head Coach for MNE, Coach Ernst has mentored eight All-WNYAC players, 12 All-Region players and ten Academic All-Americans. Prior to MNE, Ernst spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant at Marymount University in Arlington, VA and a season with the Fairfax High School program in Fairfax, VA. He was invited to assist the try-out selection teams for the US National U-19 Men's Team at UMBC during the summer of 2002.
Before that, Ernst was head coach at Buffalo State College during the 2000-01 seasons. Coach Ernst spent three seasons developing a program at Providence High School in Charlotte, NC winning a league championship in just his second year at the helm. Ernst was the head coach at Buffalo State College from 1992-1996 as well. During the summer of 2006 Coach Ernst was selected to be the Assistant Coach for the US Masters Team that participated in the World Lacrosse Festival in London, ONT. He has amassed a 112-75 record over his 16 years of coaching.
Coach Ernst graduated from Siena College in 1992 with a degree in Finance, where he played attack for their D-I program. He has been playing the sport of lacrosse for 20 plus years being part of Bud Light of Charlotte, Buffalo Select Lacrosse Club and the Washington Masters Lacrosse Club.
| Season | School | Record | |
| 2004 | Mercyhurst North East | ||
| 2005 | Mercyhurst North East | ||
| 2006 | Mercyhurst North East | ||
| 2007 | Mercyhurst North East | ||
| 2008 | Mercyhurst North East | ||
| 2009 | Southwestern | Did Not Compete | |
| 2010 | Southwestern | Inaugural Season |
Bowman is no stranger to the Southwestern lacrosse sidelines as
he has coached the immensely successful club team for the past 12
years. His teams have amassed a record of 93-75 including a perfect
31-0 conference record covering five seasons that culminated in
five Lone Star Alliance Division II Championships (2005-2009). In
each year the Pirates were invited to the National Tournament and
advanced to the quarterfinals in 2008. Southwestern has been ranked
in the top 15 nationally since 2005 and ended their final season of
club status in 2009 ranked #9 in the nation.
Under Bowman’s tutelage there have been 14 All-Americans, 54
LSA All-Conference selections in addition to coaching the league
MVP in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as Offensive
Player-of-the-Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008 and Defensive Player of
the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. For all of his hard work
Bowman was named as Coach-of-the-Year twice, 2004-2005 and
2007-2008. He has vast experience in player development as only six
players during his time with the club program have had prior
experience.
Bowman is a 1992 graduate of Southwestern University.
Dan Benson is entering his first year with the Pirates organization and will primarily be responsible for working with the goaltenders.
Dan is a native of Fairfax, VA where he graduated from Fairfax
High School. He played goalie for their varsity team under then
Head Coach Marty Joyner. While there Dan earned All-District,
All-Region, All-State recognition and was named an All-American in
2002.
Dan was invited to try out for the US U-19 men's lacrosse team and
attended tryout camp at UMBC in 2002 and played scholarship
lacrosse at Rutgers University where he was a member of the team
from 2002 - 2004.
After relocating to Austin, TX Dan coached goalies at Westlake High
School for 2 seasons.
Kyle Swarts began his lacrosse career in Houston, Texas at St. John's School. After playing in high school at The Hill School in Pennsylvania he started for two season at SCAC school Colorado College. Upon graduation Kyle moved to Austin and got involved with refereeing high school lacrosse on a part-time basis. He is also a full-time firefighter with the Pedernales Fire Department.
Kyle's defensive knowledge and experience will help Southwestern
create a stalwart defensive unit and continue the winning tradition
of Pirate Lacrosse.
