Paul Mita enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Arcadia University men's lacrosse team in 2026. Mita was hired as the fifth coach in the program's history in August 2020.
During the 2023 season, Mita's Knights went 6-2 in conference play and clinched the No. 3 seed in the MAC Freedom Championship Tournament. The men's lacrosse team had six players placed on All-MAC Freedom Teams.
Mita took the program to new heights in 2022, guiding the Knights to their first appearance in the MAC Freedom Championship with a 6-2 conference record and a home semifinal victory over DeSales. Arcadia landed its first-ever All-American that season as goalkeeper Timmy Fyock earned Honorable Mention status from the USILA. Fyock also earned MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAC Freedom status, one of nine All-Conference selections.
In his first season with the program, the Knights put together its best season in program history with an 8-7 overall record and a 6-2 mark in conference play. The men's lacrosse team clinched the second seed in the MAC Freedom Championship Tournament and claimed its first postseason victory in program history with a 20-6 win over King's College in the quarterfinals. The team also had a program-record six all-conference selections, which was headlined by MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year Brian Albertsen.
Mita arrived in Glenside after spending one season as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division III Dickinson College. The Red Devils played to a 3-2 record in the 2020 season prior to the season's cancelation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Prior to Dickinson, Mita spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Division III power Cabrini University, where he helped lead the Cavaliers to the 2019 NCAA Championship with a 16-12 victory over Amherst at Lincoln Financial Field. Additionally, the Cavaliers were named the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year following the 22-2 season that culminated in the national title.
During his three seasons at Cabrini, the Cavaliers won three-straight conference championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances while posting a combined record of 56-9. Mita developed and coached 24 USILA All-Americans as a member of Steve Colfer's coaching staff - including a program-best 11 in 2019.
Mita began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach with Upper Merion High School, where he helped lead the Vikings to the 2010 Suburban One-American Conference Championship during his three seasons. He also served as an assistant with St. Joseph's Prep, leading them to Catholic League and District 12 Championships in 2015, culminating in a PIAA State Championship berth. Mita continues to hold ties in youth lacrosse in the Philadelphia area, as he currently works with the Duke's Lacrosse Club.
Mita was a four-year member of the Villanova Men's Lacrosse program under head coach Mike Corrado, where he was a part of three nationally-ranked teams. He led the Wildcats to the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011 and a Big East regular season title in 2013. Mita was also part of the 2012 and 2013 teams to advance to the second round of the Big East Tournament. He was also named to the 2012 Big East Academic All-Star Team.
Mita graduated from Villanova in 2013 as a double major in finance and marketing. He also completed his Master's of Education from Cabrini in 2020.
Updated: 06/15/23
