Milliman Announces Men’s Lacrosse Staff Updates

BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse team coach Pierre Milliman today announced several changes to the Blue Jay staff. Brian Kellywho served the last two seasons as an assistant coach working primarily with the goaltenders, was named the team’s offensive coordinator, while Jon Cohenpreviously director of lacrosse operations, inherits Kelly’s previous position as assistant coach, focusing primarily on faceoff specialists and defense for the Blue Jays.

In addition to the coaching staff changes, Milliman also announced that Chayse Ierlan will join the program as director of operations after finishing his career in May as the Blue Jays’ starting goaltender.

“The elevation of Brian Kelly to the offensive coordinator and Jon Cohen to a field coaching position and the addition of Chayse Ierlan “The Director of Operations positions are exciting and well-deserved opportunities that each has more than earned during their time with our staff and team,” noted Milliman. “Each brings a depth of knowledge of the game, a passion for teaching and a love for our program that will allow us to continue to pursue the short and long-term goals we have established. Most importantly, the relationships they have built with our team members are authentic and impactful and I am truly excited about the staff we have in place to represent and lead the Blue Jays lacrosse program.”

Kelly takes over as offensive coordinator John Crawleywho was recently named head coach at High Point. In two seasons as a member of Miliman’s staff, Kelly helped guide the Blue Jays to a 23-11 record, two trips to the NCAA quarterfinals, the outright Big Ten regular season title in 2024 and a share of the Big Ten regular season championship in 2023.

Kelly’s work with the Blue Jays defense and goaltending during the 2023 and 2024 seasons helped fuel Johns Hopkins defenses that finished 21st (2023) and seventh (2024) in the nation in defensive scoring. Under his leadership, Ierlan earned third-team USILA All-America honors and Honorable All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse in 2024, while three Blue Jays defensemen also earned All-America honors.

In addition to his two seasons as an assistant at Johns Hopkins, Kelly’s extensive coaching career includes 10 seasons as the head coach at Goucher (2013-22) and five as an assistant (2008-12).

Cohen will begin his fifth season as a member of Milliman’s staff in 2025 as he has served as Director of Lacrosse Operations at Homewood since August 2020. He has worked closely with Milliman and his staff on many administrative parts off the field of program operation and was extensively involved in the team’s robust video operations, which included capturing, distributing and analyzing recruiting, practice, game and scouting video.

While Cohen will spend much of his time working with the Blue Jays’ faceoff specialists, he will also serve as assistant defensive coordinator under the Blue Jays’ defensive coordinator. Jamison Koesterer; In this role, he will participate in player development, practice and game planning.

Prior to coming to Johns Hopkins, Cohen spent more than 10 years working with the Denver Outlaws (MLL) in various roles, including as assistant general manager/assistant coach (2011-18) and director of player personnel (2018) before becoming general manager prior to the 2019 season.

Cohen got his start in coaching while attending UNLV as an assistant boys lacrosse coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and helped the team win the Nevada state championship in 2009 and also served as the head coach at Heritage High School in Colorado after moving to the Denver area following his graduation from UNLV.

As Director of Lacrosse Operations, Ierlan will coordinate all team travel, manage the team’s extensive video operations, organize all recruiting visits and serve as a liaison between the program and all internal and external constituents. He will also work closely with Athletic Department administration on budgetary operations and other day-to-day activities associated with the program.

Ierlan recently capped off an outstanding college career that included one season at Johns Hopkins (2024) and four years at Cornell (2020-23). ​​He posted a 9.53 goals-against average and a .564 save percentage while helping the Blue Jays advance to the 2024 NCAA quarterfinals. Ierlan ranked seventh in country in goals against average and eighth in save percentage; his 199 saves were the most saves by a Blue Jays goalie since 2008 and the second most saves by a Johns Hopkins goalie this century.

– 30 –