Vinnie Lang was named head coach at Wittenberg in 2001 and compiled a 20-50 record at the helm before leaving the university in 2005.

He arrived in Springfield after three seasons at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. Lang took over midway through the 1998 season and guided the Lakers to a 7-5 record in their final season of Division I lacrosse. The program moved to the Division II level in 1999, and in 2000, the Lakers went 8-3 and finished the season ranked 10th in the nation.

Lang played at Oswego State University for four seasons (1984-88), and played for the club lacrosse program at Purdue University for four years. He earned Big 10 midfielder of the year honors from 1992-94. His accomplishments also include second team All-Empire Lacrosse League and team MVP honors at Oswego in 1988.

Lang was involved with the German National Team for several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In his first year, Lang was a starting defenseman for the squad at the World Games held in Baltimore, Md. In 1999, Lang was Team Germany's captain at the European Lacrosse Championships held in Manchester, England, in late July. He was voted "Best Defender" in the tournament and was named All-European. In 2000, Lang was again captain of the team at the European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The team finished second to England for a second straight year. In 2001, Lang coached the team in the European Championships in Wales.

Lang has worked numerous lacrosse camps, including the Warrior Lacrosse Camp, the All-American camp, Notre Dame camps and Syracuse camps. He introduced a Wittenberg lacrosse camp in 2002.

A graduate of Baldwinsville High School near Syracuse, N.Y., Lang holds a bachelor's degree in movement and sports science from Purdue (May, 1993) and a master's degree in exercise physiology (May, 1997). He served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years and reached the rank of sergeant. He spent six months in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, fighting in the first Gulf War.

Lang and his wife, Terry, reside in Springfield. He has a son, Nikko.