The Messiah men's lacrosse team is a couple weeks ago from the start of the 2017 season and Head Coach
Atsen Bulus looks to build off last year and lead his team back to the MAC Commonwealth tournament and into the NCAA Tournament. In his first year here, Bulus coached the team to a 12-5 season record, which included an appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game. Last year the team finished with an overall record of 11-7 and again reached the conference championship, only to be defeated by Stevenson for the second year in a row.
Messiah starts their season on Feb. 18 at home against Gettysburg College and then will make way through their non-conference schedule, which includes games against tough opponents Ohio Wesleyan, Adrian College, and Christopher Newport University. Conference play for the Falcons begins on March 29 with a game against Hood College and will wrap-up on April 29 with a big game against Stevenson University at home with six other conference contests in-between.
We wanted to catch up with AT (as people call him) and learn more about his coaching experience at Messiah.
What is your full name?
Atsen Bulus
College alma mater?
I graduated from Calvin College in 2006, and then earned my master's degree from the University of Michigan Taubman School of Architecture in 2010.
How many years have you been coaching at Messiah?
This coming season will be my third year as head coach at Messiah.
Why do you love coaching at Messiah?
I love coaching at Messiah because the culture and personal development of the student athlete is paramount and present here.
What is your favorite part about coaching?
I love interacting with players and seeing them reach new heights as people, students, and athletes.
What is the most unique aspect about your program?
I think the most unique aspect about our program is that we have guys from all over the country who love Jesus and lacrosse.
Are you superstitious or do you have any pre-game coaching rituals, habits?
I'm not very superstitious, bud I do have a tradition that I follow for every game. Ever since I started playing lacrosse I stand in the same sport for the national anthem, which is on the restraining line of our side of the turf field.
What is the best thing about your coaching staff?
We push each other to be better coaches every day and strive to understand and learn more about how to coach.
Favorite Messiah memory?
My favorite memory was beating our toughest opponent my first year here to go to the conference championship.
What is the best advice you received from another coach or colleague?
"Don't hold on too tightly to what you do, because it could be the thing holding you back, be willing to change."
If you had to choose another job besides coaching, what would you do?
I would be an architect or designer.
What advice would you give to younger athletes who aspire to play a sport in college?
The fundamentals are the most important things and you should strive to improve and work on those when no one is watching.
If you could coach any other team in the Messiah College Athletic Department, which team would you choose? Why?
Wow! It's a toss-up between golf and basketball, I love both of those sports.
If you could have dinner with any coach past or present, who would it be and why?
This is a tough question because there are so many great ones but I would have to say Dave Brandt because of the way he has impacted Messiah Sports as a whole for the better. He created something within our soccer program that was sustainable and then it blended into the other programs. Ultimately, that is my dream as a coach, to leave any team I am a part of better than where I found it; but more than that make sure it is sustainable, and it continues well after I am gone.
