The 2026 season marks head coach Brice Queener’s second year on the sidelines at UCCS.
In his first season leading the Mountain Lions, Queener guided UCCS to its first winning campaign since 2022, finishing 9-6 overall and 6-4 in RMAC play. The Mountain Lions secured a third-place finish in the conference standings to qualify for the RMAC Tournament before falling to No. 2 Regis University in the semifinals.
Under Queener’s leadership, UCCS established itself as one of the top offensive teams in the conference. The Mountain Lions led the RMAC in points per game (21.76), shot percentage (.485), and assists per game (7.13), while ranking second in goals per game (14.73) and ground balls per game (25.27). UCCS also finished among the conference leaders in shots per game (30.40), shots on goal per game (23.47), goals against average (12.42), and draw controls per game (14.87).
The 2025 squad etched its name throughout the program record book. UCCS’ 21.76 points per game and 328 total points marked the second-highest single-season totals in program history. On April 6 against Fort Lewis, the Mountain Lions exploded for a program-record 38 points and tied the program mark with 23 goals in a single game. The team’s 221 total goals tied for the second-most in a season (2018), while their 14.73 goals per game set a new program record. UCCS also recorded 107 assists (second-most in program history), a program-record 379 ground balls, and 223 draw controls — highlighted by a single-game program-record 25 draw controls against Fort Lewis and 23 more against Westminster on April 13.
Queener coached nine All-RMAC honorees in his first season, including two All-RMAC First Team selections in Erica Rivera and Sarah Urbanic. Sofia Watts garnered All-RMAC Second Team and RMAC All-Tournament Team recognition, Jade Wilson earned All-RMAC Second Team honors, and Ava Goodnature, Kendra Knutson, Meghan Weiss, and Peyton Ross were all named RMAC Honorable Mention selections.
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.
