Aurora University, an NCAA Division III institution, beginning in the spring of 2011 will offer a men's varsity lacrosse team. Mark Walsh, Director of Athletics at Aurora University, said, “We have watched carefully as the sport of lacrosse has emerged in high schools and clubs in the midwest. We believe that there is sufficient interest both on campus and from prospective students to support lacrosse at Aurora University. With the sport of lacrosse played in the spring in the NCAA, we felt this sport would be a good fit and compliment for our current athletic offerings and facilities." AU will begin the programs with current student-athletes who have expressed an interest in the sport, along with incoming student-athletes. The process of identifying and selecting a head coach for the men's program has begun as well. As dropping sports has become a welcomed trend among college athletics, AU is going against the norm. Those interested in pursuing a career in lacrosse at the college level are encouraged to contact the Aurora University Athletic Department for further information. Aurora University is a member of the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) which began its first season of competition in the fall of 2006. The NAC consists of 13 colleges and universities from the shared-border states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Member schools include: Alverno College, Aurora University, Benedictine University, Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Lakeland College, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Marian College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Rockford College and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Aurora University sponsors all of the 18 Northern Athletics Conference sponsored sports. Men's teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Women's squads are fielded in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and volleyball.
