UNC men’s lacrosse head coach Joe Breschi, the winningest coach in program history, has agreed to a three-year contract extension through the end of the 2029 season.

Breschi has led UNC to 11 NCAA tournament appearances and the 2016 national title, when Carolina became the first unseeded team to take home the championship. Breschi was named 2016 national coach of the year.

“Our program goals have always been to recruit the best student-athletes nationally, compete for championships and be dedicated members of the UNC and Chapel Hill community,” Breschi said. “I’m excited for the future of Tar Heel lacrosse.”

The 2026 season is Breschi’s 18th in charge of the UNC men’s lacrosse program. A 1990 Carolina graduate, Breschi was named a first team All-American defender as a senior. Immediately after graduating, he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater and helped the Tar Heels win the 1991 national title.

Since returning to Chapel Hill in 2009, Breschi has won four ACC Coach of the Year honors and won a program-record 178 games. In addition to UNC’s 2016 title run, Breschi led the Tar Heels back to the NCAA Final Four in 2021. This year, Carolina sports a 9-1 record and is ranked No. 2 in the country.

In Breschi’s tenure, 42 Tar Heel players have earned All-America honors and five have been named ACC Player of the Year. Three Tar Heels have been named finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the national player of the year.

“Coach Breschi has been an outstanding mentor to our student-athletes, not only on the field but in the classroom and our community,” said UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham. “He continues to bring in outstanding talent, builds great camaraderie, gives back to the community and graduates outstanding leaders. We are excited to have him continue to lead our men’s lacrosse program.”

Breschi and the Tar Heels open ACC play Saturday at Dorrance Field, hosting No. 3 Syracuse at 2 p.m.

 

Featured image via Dakota Moyer

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