Atsen Bulus enters his seventh season as head coach of Messiah University men's lacrosse in 2020-21.
Bulus led 12 student-athetes to All-Conference Honors including a Rookie of the Year award in 2018 for Lucas Honebrink and most recently coached Sam Stone, an All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team honoree.
Bulus arrived on the scene in the summer of 2014 and helped the Falcons to their first MAC Commonwealth Championship appearance since 2011. The team finished the 2015 season with a 12-5 record, their most wins since that 2011 effort. Those marks garnered him the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award, the first such honor for a Messiah coach since Geoff Weisenborn in 2007.
In 2016, Bulus and the Falcons were at it again as they finished as MAC Commonwealth Runner-Up for the second-straight season, and a final record of 11-7. Last season Messiah went 9-6 and advanced to the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal.
Before arriving to Messiah, Bulus worked as the Defensive Coordinator and Midwest Recruiting Coordinator for the men's lacrosse program at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. His duties included the oversight of the Battling Bishops' speed, agility, and strength program as well as the instruction of the face-off specialists and goalies. Over this three-year tenure there, the team accumulated a 36-15 overall record with a 15-4 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference and two appearances in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
"I'm very honored to have been chosen as the new men's lacrosse head coach at Messiah," Bulus said when he was first hired. "I want to thank (Director of Athletics) Jack Cole, the search committee, and the administration for this great opportunity. The men's lacrosse program has a rich history with much success in the conference, and I'm excited to lead a new chapter of fierce competition that will allow us to be a top contender in both the conference and beyond."
Prior to working at Ohio Wesleyan Bulus worked for five seasons as an assistant to legendary head coach John Paul at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. In Bulus' time there the team went 89-7 with three Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) National Championships.
Additionally, in 2007, he co-founded the Woodland Sports Lacrosse Program in Grand Rapids, Mich. and this year was a co-presenter at the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Bulus graduated from Calvin College in 2006 where he was a four-year player on the men's club team. Across his four seasons Calvin went 75-2 and captured four MCLA Division Championships. During his senior season Bulus was a captain and All-Conference player.
Bulus holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Studio Art and Philosophy from Calvin and a Master's of Arts in Architecture from the University of Michigan. After pursuing a career in architecture while coaching at Michigan, Bulus decided to work full-time in intercollegiate coaching.
In addition to Bulus' head coach responsibilities he oversees the Falcons' work study program and is a game management supervisor.
Last updated: 8/20/20