Coach Ernst is entering his third season at the helm of the Southwestern University's first ever men's lacrosse team. The basic philosophy of Coach Ernst and the Pirate program is not only building strong athletes, but also strong students and strong young men. The coaching staff works hard to ensure that not only do their student-athlete's work hard athletically but also academically and in building maturity. Southwestern University is a place for student-athletes to be challenged on the field and in the classroom. The high academic standards are combined with an expectation of excellence in the classroom and on the playing field and prepares its' student-athletes to be impactful in society upon graduation.

In just their second season the Pirates won seven games, four in the SCAC, and earned a spot in the first ever SCAC Conference Tournament.

Ernst comes to Southwestern after starting the program at Mercyhurst North East and coaching for five seasons. During his tenure as Head Coach for MNE, Coach Ernst has mentored eight All-WNYAC players, 12 All-Region players and ten Academic All-Americans. Prior to MNE, Ernst spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant at Marymount University in Arlington, VA and a season with the Fairfax High School program in Fairfax, VA. He was invited to assist the try-out selection teams for the US National U-19 Men's Team at UMBC during the summer of 2002.

Before that, Ernst was head coach at Buffalo State College during the 2000-01 seasons. Coach Ernst spent three seasons developing a program at Providence High School in Charlotte, NC winning a league championship in just his second year at the helm. Ernst was the head coach at Buffalo State College from 1992-1996 as well. During the summer of 2006 Coach Ernst was selected to be the Assistant Coach for the US Masters Team that participated in the World Lacrosse Festival in London, ONT. He has amassed a 112-75 record over his 16 years of coaching.

Coach Ernst graduated from Siena College in 1992 with a degree in Finance, where he played attack for their D-I program. He has been playing the sport of lacrosse for 20 plus years being part of Bud Light of Charlotte, Buffalo Select Lacrosse Club and the Washington Masters Lacrosse Club.