FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Head Coach Andrew Baxter has announced three additions to the Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse coaching staff. Connor Kubikowski and Matthew Nunes join the Stags as assistant coaches, while 2025 co-captain Matt Rice returns to Fairfield as the program's Director of Lacrosse Operations.
 
Connor Kubikowski comes to Fairfield from Manhattan University following a three-year stint as the Jaspers' defensive coordinator. Manhattan was the nation's toughest defense in 2023, allowing just 8.00 goals per game, and ranked among the top-30 nationally in all three of his campaigns in Riverdale. Kubikowski, who previously coached at Army West Point and Montclair State, played collegiately at Saint Joseph's from 2014-17. He was a two-time All-Northeast Conference selection for the Hawks, earning the honor at both defenseman and LSM during his career. Kubikowski earned a B.S. in Marketing from Saint Joseph's.
 
Matthew Nunes appeared in the cage for 64 games at the University of Virginia from 2022-25, where he holds the program record for saves in a single season (213 in 2023) and ranks second in career saves (657). The 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year, Nunes was in goal for the Cavaliers in two Final Fours and eight total NCAA postseason contests. Nunes was a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection and graduated from Virginia with a degree in Politics in 2025.
 
A four-year presence for the Stags in the defensive midfield, Rice was a co-captain of Fairfield Men's Lacrosse in 2025. In his career, Rice collected 104 ground balls with 33 caused turnovers and pitched in offensively with nine goals and five assists in 56 games. The two-time CSC Academic All-District selection graduated from Fairfield in 2025 with a B.S. in Finance.

The trio joins Head Coach Andrew Baxter and Associate Head Coach Adrian Torok-Orban for the upcoming 2026 campaign. The Stags finished last season at 12-3, tying the program single-season record for wins. Fairfield was 8-0 on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium last spring – the first unbeaten home mark in a full season in program history – and spent 10 weeks in the national rankings.