Brian Anken, a 13-year veteran head coach, enters his second season and first full year with the Men's Lacrosse program at Davis & Elkins.
Anken comes to D&E after five years as head coach at the Virginia Military Institute. During his tenure at VMI, he helped the Keydets record their first victory over a service academy in program history, defeating Air Force in 2014. Under his guidance, the first players in VMI history were drafted into Major League Lacrosse and 36 of his student-athletes entered military service after graduation.
"Over the past 15 years, Brian has risen from a young assistant at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to become a successful head coach at three institutions," Joss said. "At the heart of his coaching is his capacity not only to provide young men with a positive lacrosse experience, but to mentor them in their studies and character development, and life after lacrosse. "
In making his decision to come to D&E, Anken commented, "My family and I are thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the Davis & Elkins family. It's a privilege to be part of an institution that has a clear vision for the future of its athletic program, and that understands the important role athletics can play in the personal and professional development of students.
"Building a program from inception has always been a dream. I have inherited a tremendous group of young men who are ready to get to work and build a solid program," Anken added. "We will certainly have some obstacles with the timeline for this season that opens on February 19, but it will make us stronger for the future. We are going to build a program that the College will be proud of with players of character who value hard work and accountability."
Prior to VMI, Anken was head coach at Lycoming College (Pa.) for four years. After posting a 4-10 record in his first year, his team went 10-6 in 2008, earning him Conference Coach of the Year honors. Following with an 11-5 record and sharing the 2009 conference regular season title, and an 11-6 mark in 2010, his teams posted the best three-year conference record in program history (23-5). His squads captured two NCAA team statistical champion awards, while two student-athletes earned individual statistical champion awards.  Three of Anken's Lycoming student-athletes entered military service after graduation.
Anken began his head coaching career in 2004 at Mars Hill University (N.C.) and earned Deep South Conference Coach of the Year honors. In 2006, he led the team to a 10-5 record and their first national ranking in program history. He also recruited the program's first freshman and conference player of the year and one United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American. Two of his student-athletes entered military service after graduation.
Anken's mentoring has helped develop future lacrosse coaches around the nation and Canada.  Nine of his former student-athletes and assistants are currently serving as college head or assistant coaches. Â
An active member of the NCAA, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA), Anken has served on the DI NCAA Championship & DII/DIII Regional Advisory committees as well as the DI USILA All-American, DII USILA Ranking and All-American, and DIII USILA ranking committees and Chair of the Deep South Conference committee.
The Cheektowaga, N.Y. native, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y. He and his wife Mandy have an 18-month old daughter, Parker.
