University of Colorado (CS)

UCCS Athletics
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Division 2 Colorado Southwest

Public Large Competitive team

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Coaches

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Brice Queener

Brice Queener was named the Mountain Lions third head coach in program history in July 2024. Queener begins his new role on Monday, Aug. 12.

Queener came to UCCS after spending the past five years as the Associate Head Coach at University of Denver where he served as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. He helped the Pioneers win four straight Big East Tournament Championships from 2021-2024, making it the first four Big East tournament championships in program history. As part of winning four tournament championships, Queener was part of the DU program that went undefeated in the Big East and win the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Big East Regular Season Championships.

Prior to becoming a DU Pioneer, Queener was the head coach at Southwestern University for the 2019 season. A Division III institution located in Georgetown, Texas, Queener led the Pirates to their first winning season in program history (7-6 overall). He helped Southwestern set team records in goals, assists, shooting percentage and save percentage, and coached three all-conference first team performers.

Queener's stop in Georgetown, Texas came after he was the assistant coach at Fresno State University from 2016-18. Queener helped FSU set program records for most wins, goals, assists, points, total points, shots, and saves in a season, as well as helping Fresno State to their first back-to-back winning seasons. He developed 12 all-conference players and improved the Bulldogs scoring offense from a No. 82 ranking down to No. 42.

The Penn Yan, N.Y. native became a collegiate head coach for the first time in January 2013 when he started the women's lacrosse program at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. In three seasons at the helm, Queener coached five All-Region and 29 all-conference performers. He led the Lynx to the 2015 and 2016 Southern Athletic Association tournament championships and automatic bids to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Before taking his head coaching position at Rhodes, Queener made stops as the Men's Lacrosse Head Coach at The Hill Academy and served as assistant coaches at Siena College and Binghamton University.

A 2005 graduate of Georgetown University, Queener played four years for the Hoyas, helping them qualify for four-straight NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. His six-year Major League Lacrosse career saw him drafted by the Rochester Rattlers and playing there for two seasons before playing four seasons with the Hamilton Nationals.

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Allie Popelar

Allie Popelar joined the UCCS women's lacrosse program as an assistant coach in September 2024.

A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Popelar came to the Mountain Lions program where she is currently working as the Colorado Bolts Lacrosse Girls Program Director. As the program director, she is responsible for the development, growth and management of the region's high school and youth club teams, while developing lacrosse athletes that focuses on individual skill development and team concepts, and supporting players in the college recruiting process.

The Rampart High School product returned to her alma mater as the head girls varsity and junior varsity coach for the past three seasons, leading RHS to three straight state playoff appearances from 2022-24. In just three years at Rampart, Popelar grew the program from 15 players to a roster of 35, developing players with a wide range of experience, including players with no experience, to developing multiple players that went on to earn college scholarships.

Popelar was a four-year starting midfielder and draw specialist at University of Tampa from 2015-19. A three-year team captain and the 2019 IWLCA Division II Student-Athlete of the Year, Popelar and the Spartans made the program's first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in school history in 2019 and their first Sunshine State Conference championship. As a junior in 2018, Popelar and Tampa received their first IWLCA Top 25 ranking, followed by the school's first ever top five ranking (No. 3) in 2019.

In four years with the Spartans, Popelar started all 67 games she competed in, recording 46 goals, nine assists, 55 points, 110 shot attempts and 77 shots on goal, 56 ground balls, 87 draws and 46 caused turnovers. Her 67 games started are the third most in school history and her 67 games played rank fifth all-time. Popelar also ranks in the top-10 career record books at UT in draws (eighth) and caused turnovers (eighth).