SMU has a new sports program coming to campus. On Thursday, Oct. 15, Damon Evans, Director of Athletics, announced that the Mustangs are the first Division I lacrosse program in Texas, bringing a new era to the Lone Star State. The program will officially debut in the spring of 2028.
Beginning with the 2028 season, SMU will become the sixth ACC men's lacrosse program, joining one of the nation's premier conferences in the sport. All five current ACC programs have won at least one national championship since 2009, and all five qualified for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. With the addition of SMU, the ACC will reach the six-team threshold required for automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, subject to NCAA eligibility requirements and approval.
The program set a goal to raise $25 million before April 1, 2027. They have already raised $15 million toward the program. Many donors, such as alumni and others, have made this happen.
On Wednesday, SMU officially hired Jim Mitchell, the architect of Princeton's record-breaking offense and 2026 national championship run, as the first head coach of SMU men's lacrosse. He is committed to this program to bring not just an ACC championship but also a national championship.
"We're going to compete like there's something to prove, because there is," Mitchell declared during his introductory news conference.
Mitchell comes from a Princeton team known for winning. He spent seven seasons at Princeton, helping the Tigers capture three Ivy League championships and the 2026 NCAA National Title. The Tigers' offense was the most electric last season, averaging 14.84 goals per game and 282 goals in a season.
The Tigers produced 18 games with 10 or more goals and featured four players scoring 30 or more goals. With Mitchell's elite offensive mindset, the Mustangs will serve as a new competitor against established ACC powers Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Virginia.
Mitchell has already had seven transfers come in from schools such as Princeton, Cornell, Penn, and Villanova, attempting to establish a competitive roster
With a winning mindset and already attacking the portal, Mitchell is here to win, and soon, SMU fans will have one more reason to chant "Pony Up."