Sam Balch joined the Lake Forest coaching staff in 2025.
The Foresters posted a 10-8 overall record and tied for third place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings with a league mark of 8-3 in 2025. They also reached the semifinals of the NACC Tournament. Nine players on the team were named all-conference, including one First Team All-NACC selection and the NACC Freshman of the Year.
Balch played at the NCAA Division II level for Florida Tech as a graduate student in 2022 and 2023. He racked up 85 caused turnovers and 87 ground balls while starting all 30 games and helping lead the Panthers to a 17-13 record in those two seasons. The defenseman earned First Team All-Sunshine State Conference honors and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American accolades both years.
Balch was also a two-time All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honoree during a four-year career at Roanoke College, where he finished with 83 career ground balls and 53 caused turnovers. He graduated in 2021 with a degree in art history.
