Coaching Staff

Head Coach Michael Schanhals
Head Coach Michael Schanhals played goalie and attack at Hope College, and was elected captain in 1990. He played post-collegiately as a member of the Grand Rapids LC, Shooters LC, and the Westside Blue Dragons LC.

After graduating from Hope, he went on to coach the varsity program at East Grand Rapids High School where he led the Pioneers to a state finals appearance in 1992, and the program’s first state championship in 1993. In 1994 EGR went 14-0 to complete their only undefeated season, and to finish with another state championship. Coach Schanhals was selected as the Coach-of-the-Year in Class B in 1994.

Mike left EGR to take a teaching position in the North Muskegon Public schools where he has taught English for the past 18 years. In 2000 he earned his M.A. in Curriculum from Michigan State University. He has coached football, basketball, and tennis during his tenure at North Muskegon. He also is a US Lacrosse certified official.

In 2004 he coached the varsity at Grand Haven High School to a record of 13-5.

In the fall of 2004 Hope College made a move to compete in Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) virtual varsity sanctioned play, as a part of the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Mike was named head coach at the beginning of the 2005 spring season. The Flying Dutchmen were the Central Division Champs in 2010, and Coach Schanhals was named the CCLA Coach-of-the-Year in 2009.

Mike is married to Elizabeth Meyers (91) Schanhals whom he met when she was studying Biology and playing on the Flying Dutch Field Hockey team. They have two sons, Nick and Tommy, and live in North Muskegon, Mich.

Team Faculty Advisor Pablo Peschiera
Pablo Peschiera began his playing career at defense (his specialty), with the Kalamazoo Blackhawks Lacrosse Club in 1988. Over the past 20 years he has played for Hope College (where he was the club president from 1991-1992), the Western Michigan University Lacrosse Club, the Grand Rapids Lacrosse Club, the Houston Rockets Lacrosse Club, and Westside Lacrosse Club (Holland, MI). Pablo has coached at the high school and college level: he coordinated the defense of the East Grand Rapids High School Varsity team during two state championships (1993 and 1994), and helped coach the Hope College Lacrosse Club in 2005 and 2006, where he has returned to assist with the defense once again.

He currently is an Assistant Professor of English at Hope College, where he teaches creative writing. His wife Andrea Martin (Hope Class of 1993) Peschiera is a lacrosse fan, and his daughter, Violet, a budding lacrosse player.

2012 STAFF
Head Coach: Michael Schanhals (schanhals@hope.edu)
Assistant Coaches:Allen Campbell, Russ King
Faculty Advisor: Pablo Peschiera
Team Physician: Dr. Todd Harburn