Courtesy of Benedictine University

LISLE, Ill. -- It is with great pleasure that Benedictine University announces that the interim tag has been removed from Chris Button, who has been officially named as the head coach of the men's lacrosse team.

Button served as the interim coach during the 2019 season after taking over during preseason practices. The team finished with a record of 11-4, matching the single-season record for wins. The team finished with a 9-2 record in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference, the most conference wins since the program began play in 2013.

"I am excited for the opportunity to continue what we have started," Button said. "This group worked hard over a short four-month period and I look forward to having a full year to develop the program with the opportunity to compete in the postseason next year."

Button served as an assistant in 2018 before taking the reigns early this year. Button played collegiately at LeMoyne, winning the 2013 national championship, and ranks eighth all-time in program history in scoring. The 2014 graduate scored 32 goals as a senior and finished his career with over 90 goals and 100 points.

Previously, Button assisted at his alma mater, Fairport High School in New York, and helped lead them to a Section V title and state final four. As a player at Fairport, he won a sectional title and finished his senior season as the New York State Runner-Up. Button also works for True Lacrosse. He is the co-director for the Illinois State team and also a National Team coach. In addition, he coaches Fox Valley and Glen Ellyn youth lacrosse.

Besides the victories, the team boasted a high-pace attack that scored 273 goals, averaging 18.2 per game. Benedictine scored 20 goals or more in seven games, just under half of the entire schedule. The 273 goals led the MLC and the average of 18.2 ranks fifth nationally. Benedictine also led the conference in man-up offense, assists, groundballs, points per game, assists per game, groundballs per game and shooting percentage. The team boasted eight top-10 rankings nationally in statistical categories including third in groundballs per game.

Individually, 27 players scored at least one goal while 29 recorded at least a point. Thomas Tillett broke his own school record for single-season assists while finishing with 78 points, the second most in program history. Tillett, who led the conference in assists, logged four games with double-digit points including a program single-game record of 13 on March 30 while ranking fourth nationally in scoring per game and third in assists per contest. Mateo Salceda set the single-season record for faceoff percentage while picking up 113 groundballs, third-most in program history.

"This was an easy move to make for the men's lacrosse program," said director of athletics Mark McHorney. "I was happy to see the development in our men's lacrosse student-athletes and the relationships that Chris (Button) was able to build while accumulating success."

Benedictine graduates just two players from the 2019 roster.