Johan Van Oast is a dynamic FOGO from the ADVNC SF & NDP ‘26 teams committed to the University of Michigan.
For Johan, Michigan has always been his dream school. His dad, John, and mom, Alicia, both are from the state and graduated from the University. Johan has been attending football games and cheering for the Wolverines since he was a little one. “I went to the Big House for football for the first time when I was five months old,” Johan recalled. “I had a Wolverines helmet that I wore all the time growing up. Ann Arbor is the only place I wanted to go. It was Michigan, or bust.”
Johan with Michigan football legend & Heisman Trophy winner, Desmond Howard.
“It was a new sport to our family, but John and I had seen how the lacrosse community supports its players beyond the field while working in New York City,” said Johan’s mom, Alicia Van Oast. “With two active young kids who needed to stay busy, introducing them to lacrosse was a no-brainer. We never imagined what a fulfilling adventure it would become for our family.”
Johan met Hunter Cristo and Kody Haan when he first got to the Bay, and met Max Ripple and Tanner Olrich soon after. They all began playing lacrosse at a young age. They still play together, both at St. Ignatius and for ADVNC.
“We all started playing with All West (which became ADVNC North Bay,)” Johan said. “It was just really fun. We played on the smallest field ever, and we got after it. Getting to hit people along with my friends was amazing.”
“Johan just adored playing lacrosse,” John Van Oast recalled. “He loved to run around and bang and be a boy and be physical. He played baseball too, but it was just too slow for him.”
Johan with FOGO legend, Trevor Baptiste.
Johan soon started playing rec league lacrosse with the RipTide and later the Grizzlies. It was then that he was introduced to facing off by one of the greatest face-off guys of all time. “Trevor Baptiste came to one of our practices. He taught me how to face off. Then my dad pushed me to switch from defense and I started working harder and getting better. I’ve been a FOGO ever since.”
Johan started playing for the Alcatraz Outlaws and moved over to ADVNC in the 9th grade. “My first tournament with ADVNC was at Blackjack in Vegas. It was one of the best tournaments I’ve ever had. With ADVNC and NDP, I started to really like playing with all really good players. Playing with a guy like Joe Ligas (ADVNC ‘26, committed to Notre Dame) is incredible. He’s a talent I just hadn’t seen before. ADVNC provided so many opportunities to play with and against great players. It made me better and gave me much more exposure.”
Johan with ADVNC Alum & Coach (also a Michigan Alum) Mikie Schlosser.
“The depth of the company and the fact that ADVNC had a founder who was an all-time great player (Chris Rotelli, ADVNC Founder & CEO, who won the ‘03 Tewaaraton Award at UVA) was very attractive,” said John Van Oast. “And having access to the biggest tournaments in the country like Crabfeast and Naptown was great. Seeing Johan test his mettle against the best players in the country was great to witness.”
“Everyone on ADVNC is really close,” said Johan. “It’s the same group of guys at every tournament. Even though some people live in other places, I feel like I can really trust my teammates. They’re amazing people and players. Hanging out with them at tournaments is super fun.”
“The ADVNC coaching and leadership team has been absolutely incredible,” said John Van Oast. “I always feel like I can bounce ideas off of them. I have learned you can be completely open with them, and they appreciate that. And all the families have been great. They’ve become some of our greatest friends.”
Between his play with ADVNC, St. Ignatius, and West Coast Starz, Johan established himself as a top FOGO in the country going into his recruiting summer of 2024. He leaned on ADVNC and Chris Rotelli for help throughout the process. “Coach Rotelli made a lot of calls for me,” Johan said. “Will Casertano (ADVNC Co-Director of Recruiting) helped me too. They both helped me find a bunch of schools that were a good fit, and laid out an entire plan for me, but I was all Michigan.”
“The recruiting process wasn’t entirely smooth,” said John Van Oast. “Chris Rotelli was our guy when things got a little dark. Chris was very open and transparent with us. He was really there to help us when we needed it. I can’t say enough good things about him. He just told us that Johan should focus on winning faceoffs and he would help take care of the rest.”
Michigan was interested but had not offered Johan a spot before he went to Ann Arbor for his official visit. “Ann Arbor was incredible,” Johan said. “I went with my guy, Max Ripple (ADVNC'26), who is also now committed to Michigan. “We got to go to a football game and went down on the field at the Big House. We tossed a football around. Everyone was so relaxed, yet everyone knew they were there for a reason. All the lacrosse recruits went out with guys from the team for cheesesteaks late at night after the football game. It was incredible. Just an incredible vibe.”
Johan was offered a spot that weekend and accepted, with the understanding that he would pursue a post-graduate year after graduating from St. Ignatius.
“We were incredibly stoked,” said Alicia Van Oast. "Friends have said, He's been a Wolverine since the womb. Wolverine blood courses through his veins." John and I are so insanely proud and wildly happy for Johan (and Kate, Michigan Women’s Lacrosse ‘28). As fellow Wolverines, we know what a whizbang time they will have during their maize and blue Ann Arbor eras. Johan has always worn the Michigan winged helmet. The next time he dons it, he will have earned it. He will wear it and the Block M with pride, representing every single Michigan alumnus and active student, as well as Michigan’s 160 years of athletic and academic tradition and excellence. We are so excited!”
“As soon as I committed, I wanted to work even harder,” Johan said. “I’m super motivated. I want to go there and play, and play well. I want to get lots of playing time.”
Johan also plans on following his parents’ career path and studying finance.
John, Alicia, Kate & Johan Van Oast at Kate’s commitment ceremony to Michigan at St. Ignatius.
“We’ve already gotten to see our daughter play for Michigan, and that is amazing,” said John Van Oast. “It’s almost indescribable to seeing your kid out there playing on the field at the DI level. But to see it at our alma mater and she’s wearing the maize and blue .. just awesome! We will feel the same when Johan does it.”
Constantly trying to improve, Johan said he studies a lot of film of himself. “I’ll see myself making so many mistakes. Obvious mistakes that I could have avoided so completely. I like seeing that, so I can quickly correct them.”
Johan just loves the individual nature of the face-off position. “Facing off is so personal. It’s just me and the other guy. I just have to beat him. That’s so fun for me. I have a sort of carefree attitude about it, because if I lose one, I have to move onto the next one. Whatever happened in the past, really doesn’t matter. It’s the next one that matters. It’s all mental in that way. And all of life is like that, regardless of what I am doing. I constantly try and learn, and get better.”
“Faceoff guys need to let the water just fall off the duck’s back,” said John Van Oast. “You can’t have a kid who’s rehashing the past all the time. The player just needs to use his experience, and keep getting a little better. Just move onto the next one. The kids are always so much better at that than their parents!”
Johan and his parents have this advice for young players and their parents who want to play high-level DI college lacrosse. “You have to love the game. You have to have fun. You also have to do the right things: eat right, get your grades up, work hard on your own. To succeed, you need to have fun and enjoy the process.”
“Yes, it involves schlepping!,” said Alicia Van Oast, “...and East Coast travel in often disgusting weather, and mad equipment expenses...but what a hoot! If you are just beginning lacrosse with your littles, buckle up! If you are in the thick of it, stay the course! You are going to have the time of your lives! Yes, it’s about the kids, of course, but it’s also about you, Mom and Dad. You will make lifelong friends, and your son or daughter will build bonds with players across the U.S. while playing in competitive national tournaments. The relationships and networks they forge through ADVNC provide a significant cornerstone in their developing lives. It has been a spectacular ride!”