Mike Ondrusek joined the Bellarmine Men’s Lacrosse program, serving as an assistant coach, in the summer of 2021. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in the summer of 2022.
Coach Ondrusek’s first season as offensive coordinator was a historic one for the Knights. The team broke 33 different program records, including the record for NCAA Division I Wins in a Season (11). The Knights achieved the program’s first consecutive postseason appearances as well as their first ever postseason win with a 14-13 triumph over Mercer in the ASUN Quarterfinals. The 2023 team broke the program records for points in a season (361), ground balls in a season (506), goals in a season (233), assists in a season (128), shots in a season (701), shots on goal in a season (423), points per game (21.21), goals per game (13.71), assists per game (7.53), shots per game (41.24), and shots on goal per game (24.88). The 2023 Knights finished ranked in the NCAA Top 20 in several statistical categories, including Clearing Percentage (11th), Shot Percentage (11th), Scoring Margin (15th), Scoring Offense (18th), Points Per Game (18th), Assists Per Game (19th), and Winning Percentage (20th). The 2023 team also produced the program’s 4th ever All-American in Kyle Playsted and two of the program's seven total Academic All-Americans in Jake Berggren and Benny O'Rourk.
The attack unit of Kyle Playsted, Christian Della Rocco, and Captain Benny O’Rourk, combined for 199 points, the 4th most out of any attack unit in NCAA Division I. The trio would each individually break the program record for points in a season, with Playsted pacing the group at 79 points and O’Rourk and Della Rocco tying with 60 points apiece.
Della Rocco led the ASUN and broke the Bellarmine program record for goals in a season with 50. He went on to make the ASUN All-Tournament Team, and led the Knights in Bellarmine's two tournament games, totaling six goals and an assist. Della Rocco additionally broke the Knights records for goals per game (2.94), shots in a season (127), and shots on goal in a season (79). He tied the record for goals in a game (6) on two occasions in 2023 (VMI 3/4/23, Queens 3/25/23). His 2023 performance was 4th all-time in Bellarmine history at 3.53 points per game. He finished 2023 3rd in career goals, 5th in career points, and 10th in career shots on goal all-time at Bellarmine. O’Rourk would earn 2nd Team All-ASUN Honors and tied Della Rocco for 2nd for points in a season with 60. O’Rourk’s 2023 campaign tied Playsted’s for 2nd all-time for goals in a season (40). He also tied Della Rocco’s 3.53 points per game (4th all-time in Bellarmine history). O’Rourk finished the 2023 season ranked 8th in career assists, 3rd in career points, 3rd in career shots on goal, and tied with Della Rocco for 3rd in career goals (77). Playsted earned 1st Team All-ASUN Honors and was the ASUN Player of the Year. He led the ASUN in points (79) and assists (39). Playsted’s 2023 season was his best yet, breaking the program records for points in a season (79), points per game (4.65), assists in a season (39), and assists per game (2.29). He tied Della Rocco’s record for goals in a game (6) and tied his own record for points in a game (9). He finished 2023 1st in Bellarmine history for career points (161), 1st in career assists (80), 1st in assists per game (1.70), 2nd in points per game (3.43), 2nd in career goals (81), and 7th in career shots on goal. Playsted finished the year ranked 12th in the NCAA for assists per game, 13th for individual man-up goals, and 17th in the NCAA for points per game He became Bellarmine’s 4th ever All-American, earning an honorable mention selection from InsideLacrosse.
In 2022, Ondrusek’s first year with the Knights, his main responsibilities were overseeing the Knight faceoff unit, riding, clearing, and substitution box. Ondrusek helped the faceoff unit improve its winning percentage by 11% in 2022 compared to 2021. Faceoff specialist Aidan Fearn was also named to the 2022 ASUN All-Freshman Team.
Ondrusek came to Bellarmine in 2021 by way of Division III Whittier College in Los Angeles, CA. During his time at Whittier College, Coach Ondrusek served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for four seasons. The Poets had an overall record of 21-11 including a 13-3 record in 2019, which broke the school record for single season NCAA Division III wins. The team finished in the top 25 nationally for seven statistical categories that year, including groundballs per game (18th) and caused turnovers (8th). In his first year with the Poets in 2018, Ondrusek coached a defense that finished first statistically in NCAA Divison III for caused turnovers.
Originally from Lancaster, PA, Ondrusek attended Bucknell University, where he played in 48 career games while plugging in at short stick defensive midfield, long stick midfield, on face-off wings and on the man down unit as well. Bucknell would finish with a 37-24 record over his four-year career, making him part of the program's winningest class at the time. Ondrusek was a member of a Bucknell team that achieved a national ranking of sixth in the USILA Coach’s Poll, the highest in program history. He was a recipient of the program’s Most Improved Player and Character & Leadership awards while also serving as a team captain.
Ondrusek received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University with a double major in economics and political science.
Alma Mater: Bucknell '15
