MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – North Central University head lacrosse coach Ted Sperides announced his resignation in early June following the conclusion of the spring season. Sperides had been the Rams leader since February 2018, and leaves the program in good hands as NCU looks ahead to its Spring 2021 campaign. Austin Polson-McCannon, who has assisted Sperides since 2019, has been named the new head coach effective immediately.

Sperides' 2020 squad was poised for a breakthrough year prior to the season's cancellation due to Covid-19. The team carried record numbers for roster size and, under Sperides' leadership, looked to continue building on the established momentum in the young program. Upon announcing his resignation, Sperides said, "It is a difficult decision to step away, but after much thought, I believe it is what is right for me at this time. I will miss the players and our NCU community greatly and look forward to the program's continued growth moving forward."

Fortunately for the Blue and Gold, Polson-McCannon is poised to continue the program growth moving forward as he takes the reigns. The Rams new head coach enters with a wealth of lacrosse experience. Polson-McCannon played collegiate lacrosse at the NCAA Division I level, graduating in 2017 from the University of Detroit Mercy with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Since graduation, Polson-McCannon has been a director and coach for Minnesota based lacrosse club program, Team36. His extensive experience at multiple levels of instruction and coaching have prepared him well for this next step.

The newly appointed Ram's head coach stated, "I would like to thank Travis Whipple, Stephanie Jeska, Dr. Denton and all those involved on the search committee for putting their trust in me.  I am excited about the opportunity to put NCU lacrosse on the map as we build the Ram's brand into something we can be proud of. There hasn't always been this kind of opportunity for MN student-athletes to play close to home and for their parent's to be at every game. I would like to thank my family, friends, God, and mentors for everything to get me to this point."

On Polson-McCannon's hiring, North Central athletic director Travis Whipple noted, "Austin has been a key member of our lacrosse program and we are excited for him to transition into this role. He brings great vision, energy and a sincere commitment to the student-athlete experience. Austin will ensure that we continue developing passionate champions for years to come. Good days are ahead for NCU lacrosse!"

Polson-McCannon and the NCU lacrosse team will resume their practice schedule in January as they prepare for the 2021 campaign. Schedules for the upcoming season are still to be determined and will be released on ncurams.com as soon as they are finalized.