Virginia Military Institute has hired former Stony Brook University associate head coach for defense Michael Daly as its new head men’s lacrosse coach, VMI Director of Athletics Jamaal Walton announced on Aug. 11.
Daly replaces Taylor Mendoza, who coached the Keydets for one season before he was hired as the head men’s lacrosse coach at Trinity College in Connecticut last month. Under Mendoza, the Keydets went 7-7 overall and 4-3 in the Northeast Conference this past spring. Mendoza had previously served for five years as an assistant coach and the defensive coordinator for the Washington and Lee University men’s lacrosse team.
A successful head coach at many levels with three NCAA national championships to his name, Daly brings a wide range of experience to the Institute as he becomes the ninth head coach in program history.
At Stony Brook, which went 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association in the spring, Daly helped the Seawolves win their first-ever CAA title in May. They advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament, falling 10-6 at Marist in the first round. Daly was responsible for the organization and administration of all aspects of the defense, in addition to team leadership and individual player development. In 2025, the Seawolves placed sixth in the CAA.
“Coach Daly is the right fit at the right time for VMI Lacrosse,” Walton said. “He is ready to embrace the VMI experience and has a track record of building championship programs. Throughout his time as a head coach, Mike embedded military leadership throughout his programs and that stood out throughout the search process.
“He has won multiple national championships, competed in NCAA tournaments and, more importantly, created a culture that produced lacrosse players that became great people and leaders within society,” added Walton. “It’s an exciting time for VMI Lacrosse. I’m thrilled to welcome the Daly family to Keydet Nation. Rah Virginia Mil!”
Prior to Stony Brook, Daly served as the director of player development at the University of Maryland in 2024-25, where he was responsible for the administration of all aspects of team and player development. He worked closely with Maryland head coach John Tillman and staff to identify and implement plans to maximize team performance.
Daly spent eight seasons as the head coach at Brown University from 2016-24, leading the Bears to the 2022 Ivy League regular-season title and a berth in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
“I couldn’t be more excited and humbled by this opportunity,” Daly said. “Thank you to General Furness, AD Jamaal Walton, the search committee and the VMI lacrosse alumni who believe in and support this program and my vision for it. My family and I are excited to get going and become a part of the fabric of the VMI and Lexington community.
“We are excited about this team and their choice of this way of life,” added Daly. “It’s different, we’re different and I feel strongly that the best teachers of teamwork, discipline and leadership are our men and women of service. I am excited to be part of an institution that is aligned with my values and I cannot wait to get on post and work with these impressive young men. Rah Virginia Mil!”
Before his time at Brown, Daly posted a record of 24483 in 18 seasons as head coach at Tufts University, including nine NCAA tournament appearances and seven New England Small College Athletic Conference titles. His Tufts teams won national championships in 2010, 2014 and 2015. Daly was also named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association National Coach of the Year in both 2010 and 2014.
A 1995 Tufts graduate, Daly was a two-sport athlete for the Jumbos and also received a master’s degree in education from Tufts in 1997.
