Ohio Wesleyan University Athletics

Mike Plantholt is in his 16th season as head men’s lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Last year, the Bishops won the North Coast Athletic Conference championship with an 8-0 record, won the NCAC tournament for the first time since 2015, and made their first NCAA Division III playoff appearance since 2018.   Plantholt and the Bishop coaching staff were named Region 5 Coaching Staff of the Year by the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association.   Ohio Wesleyan ranked 18th in NCAA Division III in scoring margin (6.58 goals/game).  Six Bishops received All-America citations and 12 were named to the All-NCAC teams.

With 201 wins to his credit, Plantholt ranks 25th among active NCAA Division III coaches.  He is the winningest men's lacrosse coach in Ohio Wesleyan history with 174 wins, and also was the fastest Ohio Wesleyan men's lacrosse coach to reach the 100-win mark, doing so in his 122nd game at the Bishop helm.

The Battling Bishops compiled an 11-5 record during the 2024 season, finishing second in the NCAC championship race, with Plantholt and the Bishop staff garnering NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors.  Ohio Wesleyan ranked 11th in NCAA Division III in scoring defense (7.88 goals allowed/game).  Five Bishops received All-America citations and 9 were named to the All-NCAC teams.

In 2023, the Battling Bishops compiled a 12-5 record and shared the NCAC championship.  Ohio Wesleyan led the NCAC in goals-against average (8.12) in 2023.

The 2021 Bishops went 8-1 overall and tied for first place in the NCAC West Division.

In 2019, the Bishops finished with an 11-8 overall record, finished second in the NCAC title chase, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAC tournament.  The Bishops ranked 11th in NCAA Division III in scoring offense (16.89/game) and seventh in man-up offense (.488).  Four Bishops received All-America citations and 10 were named to the All-NCAC teams.

In 2018, Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 17-4 overall record, winning the NCAC championship, and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.  The Bishops ranked 15th in NCAA Division III in scoring offense (14.95/game) and 11th in scoring margin (7.19/game).  Seven Bishops received All-America honors and 14 were All-NCAC selections.

The 2017 Bishops finished with an 11-6 overall record, finished second in the NCAC championship race, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAC tournament.  The Bishops ranked 14th in NCAA Division III in scoring offense (15.18/game) and 22nd in scoring margin (5.59/game).  Three Bishops received All-America recognition and 10 were named to the All-NCAC teams.

In 2016, Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 13-4 overall record, finished second in the NCAC championship race, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAC tournament.  The Bishops ranked sixth in NCAA Division III in scoring offense (16.29/game), ninth in scoring defense (6.65/game), and second in scoring margin (6.65/game).  Three Bishops received All-America honors and 11 were picked to the All-NCAC teams.

The 2015 Bishops won their first 18 games, sweeping the NCAC championship and the NCAC tournament, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III tournament.  The Bishops' winning percentage of .947 was the best in school history, while the 18 wins tied the school record for wins in a season.  Ohio Wesleyan ranked second nationally in scoring defense (5.79/game) and scoring margin (9.1/game), and tied for fifth in scoring offense (14.89/game).  Four players were named to the USILA All-America teams, and 13 received All-NCAC recognition.  Plantholt was named NCAC Coach of the Year for the second time.

In 2014, Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 12-4 overall record, finished second in the NCAC championship race, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAC tournament.  Ohio Wesleyan ranked eighth nationally in goals-against average (6.19/game) and 19th in scoring margin.  Two players were named to the USILA All-America teams, and 11 received All-NCAC citations.

The 2013 Bishops went 13-6, the team’s highest win total since the 2000 season.  Ohio Wesleyan won the inaugural NCAC tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, where the Bishops hosted their first NCAA tournament game since 1996.  The Ohio Wesleyan defense again ranked among the nation’s elite, ranking sixth nationally in goals-against average (6.05) and 12th in scoring margin.  Two Ohio Wesleyan players received USILA All-America honors, while 12 were named to the All-NCAC teams, with Plantholt receiving NCAC Coach of the Year laurels.

In 2012, Ohio Wesleyan finished with an 11-5 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.  Nine Ohio Wesleyan players were named to the All-NCAC teams.

The 2011 Bishops won a share of the NCAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 10-4 overall record under Plantholt’s tutelage, with the Bishop defense allowing only 97 goals, the team’s lowest season total and per-game average (6.9) since 1988.  Ohio Wesleyan’s efforts were recognized with one USILA All-America selection and 10 All-NCAC choices.

Plantholt came to Ohio Wesleyan from Randolph-Macon College, where he was head coach for 4 years, leading the Yellow Jackets to new heights. In 2008, Randolph-Macon posted the program's best record in 8 seasons, and made its first-ever appearance in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament. The Yellow Jackets improved upon that the following year, making their first appearance in the USILA Division III rankings in more than a decade, and made a second consecutive appearance in the ODAC tournament. During that season, Randolph-Macon defeated 15th-ranked Denison, a victory ranked by Laxpower.com as the top upset win of the season in Division III in 2009.

In 2010, Randolph-Macon made a third straight appearance in the ODAC tournament. In 4 seasons at Randolph-Macon, Plantholt mentored 10 all-conference selections, including the Yellow Jackets' first first-team all-conference honoree since 2004.

Prior to taking the Randolph-Macon position, Plantholt served as an assistant coach at Gettysburg (Pa.) College for 4 seasons. He served as the Bullets' defensive coordinator, overseeing units that led all NCAA Division III teams in scoring defense in 2006 and ranked fourth nationally in 2004 and eighth nationally in 2005. During Plantholt's time on the Gettysburg coaching staff, the Bullets won 3 Centennial Athletic Conference championships and made 3 straight appearances in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.

 Plantholt began his coaching career at Muhlenberg (Pa.) College in 2002, serving as recruiting coordinator for the Mules' first-ever men's lacrosse team.

A 2001 graduate of Gettysburg, Plantholt enjoyed great success on the field. He was named Division III Defenseman of the Year in 2001 after leading the Bullets to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III national championship game. He was a 2-time All-America and 3-time all-conference selection, and capped his collegiate career by being selected to play in the North-South All-Star game.

Plantholt majored in psychology at Gettysburg and earned a Master's in Business Administration degree from Mount St. Mary's (Md.) University in 2007. He is a native of Cockeysville, Md.