University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Craig Chick enters his eighth season with the UMBC men’s lacrosse program in 2026-27 and his first on head coach James Purpura’s staff. Purpura retained Chick as associate head coach and defensive coordinator following Chick’s season as interim head coach of the Retrievers in 2026.

Chick served as interim head coach for the 2026 season, guiding UMBC to a 6-7 record and an America East Playoff Appearance.

In 2025, Chick was promoted to associate head coach while continuing to serve as the Retrievers’ defensive coordinator. UMBC earned a share of the America East regular-season championship after finishing 5-1 in conference play, while Chick’s defensive unit finished 19th nationally in scoring defense.

In 2024, UMBC returned to the America East playoffs and finished among the nation’s top 20 in clearing percentage. Defenseman Ethan Robinson earned First Team All-America East honors for the second consecutive season.

The Retriever defense finished fifth nationally in scoring defense in 2023 under Chick’s direction.

Chick was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season and immediately led one of the top defensive units in the country. UMBC finished 8-5 and opened the season with four consecutive victories while holding each of its first four opponents to fewer than 10 goals. The Retrievers finished ninth nationally in scoring defense and held opponents to the lowest clearing percentage in the America East. Chick also coached Tewaaraton Award nominee Jayson Tingue and First Team All-America East defenseman Ethan Robinson.

In 2020-21, Chick became a full-time assistant coach, assisting with the defense and overseeing the man-down unit. The Retrievers finished 8-3, captured the America East regular-season championship and hosted the conference championships. UMBC ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense and fifth nationally in man-down defense.

Chick first joined the UMBC staff in 2019-20, assisting both the offensive and defensive coordinators while overseeing the face-off unit. 

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Chick completed one of the most decorated playing careers in Lehigh history. The Edgewater, Maryland native and South River High School graduate earned USILA Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 before being named a USILA Second Team All-American in 2019, the highest USILA All-America honor by a Lehigh player in 93 years of competition at the time. He was also a two-time Second Team Media All-American.

Chick was a three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection and a two-time team captain. During his senior season, he was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times, earned Senior CLASS Award First Team All-America honors and competed in the 2019 USILA North-South All-Star Game.

Chick finished his Lehigh career with 160 caused turnovers, setting the NCAA career record. As a senior, he recorded 42 caused turnovers, breaking his own Lehigh single-season record for the third consecutive year.

Following his collegiate career, Chick was selected in the second round of the Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Dallas Rattlers. He earned an MLL All-Star selection during his rookie season and was nominated for Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Defenseman of the Year while playing long-stick midfield.

Chick continued his professional career in the Premier Lacrosse League, playing for the Atlas from 2020-23 before joining the Boston Cannons.