Mike Song Named Head Coach

Mike Song has been named head coach of the Fighting Illini Men’s Lacrosse team after spending the last two years in the same role at Westcliff University in California.

As head coach at Westcliff (NAIA/MCLA), Coach Song led the program to a 14-1 overall record, positioning the program for Southwestern Lacrosse Conference Division II playoff contention in 2025. In his career at Westcliff, the Warriors scored 195 goals to 77 allowed, averaging 14-6 per game. The team’s RPI ranking in MCLA DII was 23rd in the nation in 2024.

Previously, Song was head coach at Westside High School (’19 THSLL Coach of the Year). Coach Song converted the program from under three wins per season to a Houston Independent School District Championship ’22, a THSLL Class D South City Championship ’22, and a State Championship ’22 appearance. In his four years at Westside, Coach Song earned college offers to NCAA Division I-III and NAIA schools, and he coached four All-State and seven All-District players.

Coach Song also directed Nation United-Texas, an elite high school club program, where he won multiple club tournament championships, with players committing to Virginia, Hofstra, Marist, Hampton University, Virginia Military Institute, High Point, and more. Coach Song continues to work with Nation United Foundation, assisting with the We Stand Initiative and the Develop Your Game program.

In 2018-19, Coach Song was an assistant coach at the University of Houston.

From 2014-2018, Coach Song served as Head Coach at Long Beach Polytechnic HS, named one of the top 10 sports schools in the country according to ESPN. At Poly, Coach Song launched the program and graduated it from a club to a CIF school sport, earning an overall coaching record of 43-25 (.632), while also developing Long Beach Youth Lacrosse, a youth and feeder program offering lacrosse to minorities and lower income families.

Prior to LB Poly, Coach Song served as Varsity Assistant and JV Head at Mira Costa HS in Manhattan Beach, CA, where he led the team to an 11-1 record.

As a player, Song was a midfielder for the Korea National Team in the 2002 World Lacrosse Championships, starting all games including Sweden, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Wales, and Ireland. Korea ranked 11th in the world, and Song was a leader in overall points. In college, Song attended Lehigh University, playing for the men’s lacrosse club and earning NCLL All-Star accolades in ‘97, as well as competing in the NCLL national championship tournament two times, reaching both semi-finals and quarter-finals in ’97 and ’01 respectively.

“I’m excited about this opportunity, as the University of Illinois is the ideal campus to build a championship program. The academic offerings, Big 10 facilities, and campus life all make this one of the most attractive universities in the country,” says Coach Song.

Media Contact: illinimlax@gmail.com