Paul Calkins became the fourth head coach in the history of the Southern New Hampshire University men's lacrosse program in 1989. Calkins, who wrapped up his 35th season in 2024, was elevated to full-time status in the summer of 2009. Calkins is the longest-tenured active head coach at one school at the Division II level.
Three early-season one goal losses set the stage for a 4-9 season in 2024. The Penmen competed well against four nationally-ranked Northeast-10 opponents in the final three weeks of the season which included a ten goal first period against #14 Bentley in a game the Falcons rallied to win 19-15. Five members of the squad earned All-Conference recognition - Ryan Auger, Gennaro Marra, Ronan DePaul, Ryan Lynch and Luke Wiedemann. Marra finished his career with 526 ground balls, establishing a new program mark.
SNHU finished up the 2023 season at 6-6 (5-5 NE10), advancing to the Northeast-10 Championship. The Penmen were within one goal of top-ranked LeMoyne in the fourth quarter of a March contest before falling 13-9. After falling 12-11 to ten-ranked Pace, SNHU rolled to five consecutive wins. Ryan Auger finished as the team's leading scorer with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists).
The Penmen earned a trip to the Northeast-10 tournament with a 7-5 record (5-5 NE10) in 2022. SNHU put together a six-game win streak in the middle of the season, which included an overtime road win at Franklin Pierce and a 12-10 win at rival Saint Michael's College. Specialist Gennaro Marra moved into the top spot for career ground balls and finished among the national leaders winning 231-of-351 face-offs (.658). Eight Penmen received post-season recognition by the New England Intercollege Lacrosse Association.
SNHU returned to the field in the Spring of 2021, competing against only Northeast-10 rivals, finishing with a 6-6 record. The squad advanced to the Northeast-10 quarterfinals, falling 12-9 to seventh-ranked Adelphi. Four SNHU players received all-conference recognition, and five were honored by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA).
The Penmen went 5-9 in 2018, and 4-10 in 2019, and were optimistic heading into the 2020 season when the CoVid-19 pandemic hit, cutting short the season after just three games. SNHU defeated Dominican, N.Y. 14-7 to pick up the first win of the season, but did not play again after the March 7 contest at Penmen Stadium.
The 2017 team finished with a 9-6 record, which included a four game conference win streak. On March 25, the Penmen defeated top-ranked LeMoyne 10-9 in the snow on Larkin Field. It was the first loss in 26 games for the defending NCAA Division II Champions.
In 2016, Calkins was named the Northeast-10 Conference and New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Coach of the Year after guiding Southern New Hampshire to its finest season in school history. He led the Penmen to program records for wins in a season (10), consecutive wins (8) and Northeast-10 Conference victories (7). Southern New Hampshire also captured its first-ever postseason win when it posted a 15-13 triumph over Pace University in the Northeast-10 Championship quarterfinals on May 3. The Penmen wrapped up their 2016 season with an overall mark of 10-6 that featured a 7-4 record in the Northeast-10 Conference. SNHU advanced to NE-10 Championship semifinals for the first time in program history and saw an eight-win improvement from the 2015 campaign.
In 2014, Calkins was named the NEILA Coach of the Year after guiding the Penmen to a 7-7 regular-season mark and the No. 5 seed in the NE-10 Cham
pionship.
A former two-sport athlete at New Hampshire College (lacrosse and ice hockey), he led the Penmen to a 7-4 record in his rookie season and followed up with an 8-3 campaign in 1990. The eight wins tied the school record for most victories in a season.
In 1995 Calkins guided the Penmen to a 6-6 record and an appearance in the semifinals of the ECAC Division II tournament--the program's first-ever taste of postseason play.
An active member of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), he served on both the USILA Division II All-America selection committee and the USILA Division II national rankings committee.
A native of Baldwinsville, N.Y., he attended Baker High School where he lettered in hockey and lacrosse. He currently resides in Hooksett, N.H. with his wife Lori.
