Oct. 28, 2014 – Concordia University Chicago will begin men's and women's lacrosse during the 2015-16 academic year. The announcement was made at the recent 2014 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

"Concordia University Chicago is an ideal university for student-athletes to flourish in the classroom, in their sports and ultimately in life beyond college," said Dr. Daniel L. Gard, President of Concordia University Chicago. "The University looks forward to lacrosse becoming a part of our active and growing athletic program and to the presence of lacrosse players who will add much to our campus. Go, Cougars' Lacrosse!"

The addition of both lacrosse programs will increase the number of intercollegiate sports programs offered at CUC to 19. "We think that lacrosse is a growing sport that fits the profile of the students attending Concordia-Chicago," said Pete Gnan, Concordia-Chicago Director of Athletics. "By adding two additional athletic programs, it will enhance the opportunities that students have for intercollegiate competition at the university."
           
A national search is underway for a head coach for each lacrosse program so that recruiting time is adequate to fill the rosters in time for the initial seasons in the spring of 2016.
           
The teams' official conference affiliation will be announced at a later date. The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, of which all other CUC teams are currently affiliated, does not recognize lacrosse as an officially sanctioned sport. Concordia-Chicago will become the fifth NACC institution to sponsor at least one lacrosse program, following Aurora University, Benedictine University, Concordia University Wisconsin and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
           
Lacrosse is a Native American game that has gained significant popularity at the youth levels in the past 20 years with the modern rules of field lacrosse initially codified in 1867. At the NCAA level, it was recently designated as an emerging sport and is one of the most frequently added sports in collegiate athletic programs nationally.
           
"By adding lacrosse at this juncture, Cougar athletics are showing their vision and remaining at the forefront of NCAA college athletics," Gnan said.