Josh Yago built an unusual path through college and professional lacrosse while beginning his military career. The Air Force Academy graduate became a second lieutenant in the U.S. Space Force, completed a standout senior season with the Falcons, transferred to Notre Dame for graduate school, and later joined the Philadelphia Waterdogs.
His move to Notre Dame required military authorization, making his final college season uncertain. Once approved, he led the Fighting Irish in points and assists, helped them reach the NCAA championship game, and established himself as a professional midfielder during the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League season.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| College programs | Air Force and Notre Dame |
| College position | Attack |
| Graduate program | Master of Science in Business Analytics |
| Major Air Force honor | ASUN Offensive Player of the Year |
| Notre Dame production | 57 points in 16 games |
| Professional team | Philadelphia Waterdogs |
| Professional position | Midfield |
| PLL rookie production | 19 regular-season points |
A Freshman Knee Injury Reshaped His Lacrosse Path
Yago’s college career began with a major interruption. He tore his ACL and meniscus during freshman fall preparation at Air Force and did not play during the 2022 season.
The injury later became important for two reasons. It gave him an additional year of athletic eligibility, and it changed how he approached the sport. Yago told USA Lacrosse that rehabilitation made him hungrier and taught him that no player can assume another opportunity will always be available.
He returned in 2023 and appeared in 13 games, starting nine. His 15 goals and 10 assists gave him 25 points in his first active college season. That performance provided the foundation for a much larger role the following year.
In 2024, he started all 15 games and led Air Force with 54 points. His 30 assists led the ASUN, while his 24 goals included two four-goal performances. He earned All-ASUN First-Team recognition at the end of the season.
Yago Developed Into Air Force’s Record-Setting Captain
Yago’s final season with the Falcons produced his strongest Air Force numbers. Serving as team captain in 2025, he recorded 37 goals and a program-record 35 assists for 72 points. That total ranked second in Air Force single-season history.
His production earned him ASUN Offensive Player of the Year, unanimous All-ASUN First-Team recognition, and honorable-mention All-America honors. He was also selected for the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
Air Force won its first ASUN tournament championship and defeated Robert Morris in the NCAA tournament. Yago completed his Falcons career with 156 points from 79 goals and 77 assists. At the time, he ranked fifth in program history in points, seventh in goals, and third in assists.
Although scoring was a substantial part of his role, his assist record closely matched how he described his game. Yago has said he enjoys creating opportunities for teammates and can find more satisfaction in an assist than in scoring himself.
Military Approval Shaped His Notre Dame Transfer
Yago entered the transfer portal during his senior season at Air Force. After receiving limited Division I interest as a high school recruit, his 2025 production drew attention from Notre Dame, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, and other programs.
Athletic interest alone could not determine his destination. As an Air Force Academy graduate beginning military service, he needed approval to attend graduate school and separate authorization to play another college season.
Notre Dame appealed to him academically and athletically. Yago said he wanted a school where the graduate degree mattered while still offering a high-level lacrosse opportunity. He applied to the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at the university’s Mendoza College of Business.
The process remained uncertain for months. Mendoza initially offered partial scholarship funding, but the arrangement did not meet the military’s requirements. Notre Dame later approved full academic funding, and the Air Force assigned him to graduate school there.
Permission to play lacrosse remained unresolved when he arrived on campus in August 2025. Yago told coach Kevin Corrigan he intended to stay at Notre Dame even after being told he could not join the team. Military officials reversed that decision approximately two weeks later, clearing him to compete.
His Notre Dame Opportunity Produced an Immediate Impact
Yago entered a Notre Dame attack that had lost all three starters from the previous season. Despite his experience, he said he approached the transfer as though he were a freshman who still needed to earn his teammates’ respect.
He started all 16 games in 2026 and finished with 34 goals and 23 assists. His 57 points and 23 assists led the Irish, while his goal total tied for the team lead. He produced at least three points in 13 games and recorded six hat tricks.
In February, the ACC named him Offensive Player of the Week after he combined for five goals and four assists in victories over Georgetown and Bellarmine. He later became one of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, though he was not selected as a finalist.
Yago also received honorable-mention All-America recognition from USILA, Inside Lacrosse, and USA Lacrosse. His best stretch arrived during the NCAA tournament, when he accumulated 19 points across four games.
That postseason included four goals and three assists in a quarterfinal victory over Johns Hopkins, followed by three goals and four assists against Syracuse in the semifinals. Notre Dame reached the national championship game before losing to Princeton on May 25. Yago was subsequently named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, adding to his earlier ACC All-Tournament selection.
Team-First Leadership Connected Lacrosse With Service
Yago has described his leadership style as based more on actions than constant instruction. He said he is not always the most vocal person in a group, an approach he developed through responsibilities at the Air Force Academy and later carried into Notre Dame’s locker room.
Academy cadets work within squadrons containing people from different years and backgrounds. According to Yago, leading in that environment presented challenges beyond working with teammates who already shared one competitive goal. The experience taught him to take responsibility and lead different groups.
His military direction also developed gradually. Yago chose the Space Force when Air Force cadets submitted their preferred assignments, and a related internship increased his interest in the branch. As of August 2026, his precise technical role had not been finalized, although he had expressed interest in satellite operations.
Service carried additional meaning during Notre Dame’s championship run. Before playing on Memorial Day, he said he wanted to represent members of the Air Force, Space Force, other military branches, and those who had died while serving.
That focus on collective responsibility also appeared in his lacrosse priorities. He said personal statistics mattered less than whether he helped teammates and left a positive impression in the locker room.
The Waterdogs Extended His Career Into Professional Lacrosse
Yago received military authorization to pursue professional lacrosse while continuing his Space Force responsibilities. The Philadelphia Waterdogs selected him 21st overall in the third round of the 2026 PLL College Draft.
His professional role differed from his college position. Air Force and Notre Dame used him at attack, while Philadelphia classified him as a midfielder. The Space Force allowed a schedule that let him handle weekday responsibilities while competing in the PLL on weekends.
Yago moved beyond simply earning a draft selection. During the completed 2026 regular season, he recorded 19 points for Philadelphia through nine one-point goals, one two-point goal, and eight assists. The Waterdogs finished 9–3 and secured the top playoff seed.
His professional production continued the balance between shooting and distribution seen throughout his college career. It also completed a rapid transition from Air Force captain to Notre Dame’s leading scorer and then a contributing PLL rookie.
Service, Education, and Lacrosse Continue to Shape His Direction
Yago’s path depended on his ability to adapt when injury, military requirements, and academic commitments changed his available options. Once authorized to compete at Notre Dame and professionally, he supported those opportunities with team-leading college production and a productive PLL rookie season.
His preference for creating opportunities for teammates connects his statistical record with the leadership approach he described in interviews. Service, education, and team responsibility remain central to his development on and beyond the field.