BURLINGTON, Vt. - University of Vermont Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman announced on Monday the hiring of Drew Kelleher '09 as the eighth head coach in Vermont men's lacrosse history. The 2009 America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year and team MVP returns to Burlington after four years as head coach at UMass Lowell.
 
"I'm thrilled to welcome Drew back to UVM as the new leader of our men's lacrosse program," said Schulman. "As a former Catamount, he's had a first-hand perspective on what makes UVM special and what it means to represent the Green and Gold and the State of Vermont. Throughout his career, Drew has earned a reputation as a coach of tremendous integrity, character, and commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes. His vision aligns perfectly with the values of UVM, and I am fully confident he will continue the championship culture that that has come to define our men's lacrosse program on and off the field."
 
"I'm honored to be the next Head Coach at the University of Vermont. I want to thank Jeff Schulman and the entire Catamount Community for this amazing opportunity," said Kelleher. "This team is in an incredibly healthy place, and I am humbled by the idea of taking over a program that has meant so much to me. It is my goal to take this program to the next level, and I cannot wait to get started. I look forward to connecting with all the players, families, and alumni in the very near future!" 
 
Kelleher was the second River Hawks coach since the program was reinstated in 2015. During the 2026 campaign, UMass Lowell had the second-best faceoff percentage in America East at 59.2%. In league play the River Hawks were tied for third at .83 man-up goals per game. Three River Hawks players earned All-Conference honors with two named to the Second Team and one to the All-Rookie Team.
 
Prior to his time in Lowell Kelleher was the head coach at Manhattan for seven seasons developing the Jaspers into a MAAC powerhouse. Under his leadership Manhattan posted the nation's best man-down defense in 2019 and earned a share of the 2021 Regular Season Champion title. For his efforts Kelleher was named the unanimous 2021 MAAC Coach of the Year. In 2022 Kelleher guided the Jaspers to their first-ever MAAC Championship and the program's second NCAA Tournament berth. Manhattan faced Vermont in the NCAA Opening Round falling to the Catamounts in the first-ever NCAA Tournament men's lacrosse game from Virtue Field.
 
Kelleher was also the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston University for two seasons. His time in Boston coincided with the program's start, which saw a meteoric rise for the Terriers from infancy to a national ranking in 2015. Serving as offensive coordinator for the BU offense, his unit produced a three-goal spike to just over 10 per game from the program's inaugural season while winning six games and ascending to a national ranking.
 
Kelleher spent the 2012 season as an assistant coach/offensive coordinator at Siena. During his one year in Loudonville, he helped the Saints to an 11-5 record and the MAAC regular season title while helping spearhead the nation's fourth-ranked offensive attack at over 12 goals per game.

He began his coaching career with a two-year stint at Hamilton College from 2010-11 as the Continentals posted a 21-7 record.

A four-year standout at Vermont, he capped his outstanding career with the Catamounts by ranking 11th nationally in goals per game (2.50) as a senior in 2009 on route to being named the America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year. Kelleher graduated with a degree in education from UVM.