One of DeeThreelax premier programs has its next leader. Trinity College announced the hiring of Taylor Mendoza as the seventh head coach in the history of its men’s lacrosse program. Mendoza will officially take over the Bantams on August 3 after spending the 2026 season as the head coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), bringing with him an impressive resume that spans both the Division I and Division III levels.

“Trinity College is excited to welcome Taylor Mendoza as the next Head Coach of Bantam Men’s Lacrosse,” said Trinity Director of Athletics Gavin Viano. “Following a national search that attracted an outstanding pool of candidates, Coach Mendoza emerged based on his proven ability to recruit, develop, and mentor student-athletes while building programs that excel both competitively and academically at the national level. Coach Mendoza brings tremendous energy, a strong vision for the future, and a commitment to fostering a culture of excellence that aligns perfectly with our aspirations for Men’s Lacrosse. We are confident that his leadership will position our program to compete at a championship level within the NESCAC and beyond in the seasons to come.”

Mendoza arrives in Hartford after guiding VMI to one of the most successful seasons in recent program history. In his lone campaign leading the Keydets, VMI won seven games the program’s highest win total by a head coach since its inaugural season in 1983 and earned a berth in the Northeast Conference Tournament, marking the program’s first postseason appearance since 2022. Three players earned All-Conference honors under Mendoza’s leadership, while the team also posted a 3.29 GPA during the Spring 2026 semester. Although his stint at VMI lasted just one season, Mendoza had already established himself as one of the brightest assistant coaches in DeeThreeLax during a four-year run at Washington and Lee. Serving as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, he helped the Generals develop into a perennial national contender.

During the 2025 season, Washington and Lee finished 17-4 overall, went a perfect 10-0 in ODAC play, captured the conference championship, and hosted the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. A year earlier, Mendoza helped engineer one of the biggest wins in DeeThreeLax, as the Generals upset then-No. 1 Salisbury en route to the program’s first NCAA Final Four appearance in more than two decades. That season earned Mendoza recognition as the 2024 IMLCA Division III Outstanding Assistant Coach, after previously being a finalist for the award in both 2022 and 2023. His impact at Washington and Lee was evident throughout his tenure. The Generals recorded a program-record 18 victories in 2023 while advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals, and they also reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Mendoza’s four seasons on staff. Along the way, he helped develop 26 USILA All-Americans, 39 All-ODAC selections, eight USILA Scholar All-Americans, two ODAC Players of the Year, a USILA Face-Off Player of the Year, and an IMLCA South Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Before returning to DeeThreeLax, Mendoza spent three seasons at Penn State as the program’s Director of Lacrosse Operations. During that stretch, the Nittany Lions compiled a 33-17 record, captured the 2019 Big Ten Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals. His coaching journey also includes stops at Amherst College, where he helped the Mammoths reach the NCAA Tournament in both 2016 and 2017, and Skidmore College, where he began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator.

A former standout player himself, Mendoza enjoyed a decorated career at SUNY Cortland, helping the Red Dragons post a remarkable 56-5 record over three seasons. Cortland captured three SUNYAC championships during his career while making NCAA Tournament appearances in all three seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 2012.

Mendoza now inherits one of the most respected programs in DeeThreeLax and one with championship expectations every season. His experience coaching in the NESCAC, coupled with his success recruiting and developing talent at both the Division I and Division III levels, made him a natural fit throughout Trinity’s national search. For the Bantams, the hire signals a commitment to maintaining their place among the nation’s elite. For Mendoza, it represents an opportunity to lead a strong program after steadily building an impressive coaching resume. Trinity is hoping that resume translates into the next championship chapter of Bantam lacrosse.