Michael Schanhals

Directing camp is Hope College men's lacrosse coach, Michael Schanhals. Coach Schanhals has a long association with the program, first as an athlete, then as coach of the college's club team and now as head coach of Hope varsity program since the 2013 season.

Schanhals guided the Flying Dutchmen to their best record in 2018 and to the team's first NCAA appearance in 2019. His team was runnerup in the MIAA tournament in 2018 and MIAA tournament champions in 2019.

Schanhals played goalie and attack on Hope's club team and was elected captain in 1990. He played post-collegiately as a member of the Grand Rapids LC, Shooters LC, and the Westside Blue Dragons LC.

After graduating from Hope, he went on to coach the varsity program at East Grand Rapids High School where he led the Pioneers to a state finals appearance in 1992, and the program's first state championship in 1993. In 1994. East Grand Rapids went 14-0 to complete its only undefeated season, and to finish with another state championship. Schanhals was selected as the Coach of the Year in Class B in 1994.

He left East Grand Rapids to take a teaching position in the North Muskegon Public schools where he has taught English for the past 18 years. In 2000, he earned his master's degree in curriculum from Michigan State University. He has coached football, basketball, and tennis during his tenure at North Muskegon. He also is a U.S. Lacrosse certified official.

In 2004, Schanhals coached the varsity at Grand Haven High School to a record of 13-5.

In the fall of 2000, Hope made a move to compete in Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) as a part of the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Schanhals was named head coach at the beginning of the 2005 spring season. The Flying Dutchmen were the Central Division Champs in 2010, and Schanhals was named the CCLA Coach-of-the-Year in 2009.

Schanhals still teaches in the North Muskegon school system. He is married to Elizabeth Meyers '91 Schanhals, whom he met when she was playing on the Flying Dutch field hockey team. They have two sons, Nick and Tommy, and live in North Muskegon. Nick played goalie for Hope lacrosse from 2017 to 2019 and was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year his senior year.