Women's Lacrosse
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Michael Storts completed his second season as the volunteer assistant coach with the Marquette University women's lacrosse team in 2020-21.
Storts is in his second stint coaching at MU as he spent three years as a volunteer assistant coach with the Marquette University men's lacrosse program from 2014-17.
Since joining the women's team in 2020, Storts has helped push the offensive attack to one of the top groups in the BIG EAST and nationally. In 2021, the Golden Eagles ranked second in the conference in goals (214), points (303), and assists (89). MU also boasted a top-40 scoring offense (13.38 goals and 18.94 points per game).
He proved to be key in the development of attackers Megan Menzuber and Caroline Steller, who ranked Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, in points in the BIG EAST. Both earned All-BIG EAST honors as seniors in 2021.
In the past two seasons,Menzuber tallied 92 of her 178 career points, including a career-best 40-goal, 15-assist season in 2021. After scoring just 17 goals with four assists in her freshmen and sophomore years combined, Steller exploded as an upperclassman, scoring 60 goals with 33 assists in her final two seasons and leading her team in points in 2020.
In addition to the development of Menzuber and Steller, the Golden Eagles proved to have one of the most balanced offense in the entire conference. MU was the only team in the league to have five players score 20-or-more goals in 2021. It also also had 10 players register 10-plus points on the year and 16 players reach the scoring column. 10 different players reached career-highs in points in 2021 under his watch.
In the 2020 season, Storts helped the MU offense set the pace for perhaps the best offensive season in program history before it was canceled after 10 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Golden Eagles tallied 148 goals and 221 points overall and had seven different players score between 14 and 23 goals, creating a dynamic and balanced attack. Junior attacker Caroline Steller led the bunch with 40 points (23 goals, 17 assists) while freshman Hannah Greving led all BIG EAST freshmen with 14 goals.
MU tied a program-record with 23 goals in a decisive victory over Detroit Mercy and Megan Menzuber broke the single-game program record with seven goals against the Titans. The Golden Eagles reached also double figures in goals in eight of their 10 games in 2020.
Nationally, the Golden Eagles ranked No. 17 in points per game (22.10), No. 16 in assists per game (7.30) and No. 19 in scoring offense (14.80) during the 2020 season. The year before he arrived, the team ranked Nos. 32, 37 and 37, respectively, in these offensive categories.
Since 2015, Storts has worked as the director of player development for Amplify Lacrosse, the Milwaukee-based lacrosse training organization. Here, he managed all aspects of short and long-term player recruitment strategies including video development, lead generation and player-coach communication. He assisted student-athletes and families in all phases of the personal recruitment process and he was a liaison to DI, DII, DIII and MCLA coaches to ensure student-athletes were able to find their best college fit.
During the 2015 season in which the Golden Eagles won a program-record 10 games, Storts assisted the defense, played a central role in video breakdown, advanced scouting and led the scout-team offense.
Storts most recently served as head coach at Verona Area High School in Madison, Wisconsin, after playing three years of MCLA Division I lacrosse at the University of Minnesota. A three-year starter as a close defenseman for the Gophers, Storts was a 2010 team defensive MVP, two-time team captain, two-time First Team All-UMLC defenseman and national all-academic performer. He graduated in 2010 with a degree in business administration and coaching studies.
In 2011, Storts was named defensive coordinator at Verona Area High School, his alma mater. In his first season he helped the Wildcats to a 17-5 record, winning its final 11 games and the 2011 Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation State Championship.
Storts served as head coach of Verona during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and guided the program to two more state championship appearances, winning the title in 2014. The Wildcats won 31 of 41 games under his direction, including a 17-4 record in 2014. From 2011 to 2014, the program held a 15-2 record in postseason play.
In his four years at Verona, Storts mentored three WLF Player of the Year winners, five All-Americans, 14 all-state selections and 32 all-conference performers. Eight of his defensemen would go on to play NCAA lacrosse, including All-EMPIRE 8 performer, Paul Romens.
From 2011 to 2013, Storts served as head coach of the University of Wisconsin MCLA lacrosse program, guiding the Badgers to a 26-15 record and two GRLC West titles. He coached 19 players to the all-conference team, including three MCLA All-Americans and one GRLC Defensive Player of the Year.
As a prep, Storts was a three-year letterman at Verona Area High School, where he captained the lacrosse team to a 43-5 record and two state championships. He was a high school All-American, two-time all-state selection and 2005 WLF Defensive Player of the Year.
