Miami marks the spot where Coach Brawner first picked up a stick and started his game in the 8th grade. As a middie for Palmer Trinity during high school, he helped advance the team to become Florida’s 1992 State Champions. At Princeton, that team champion title followed him for two years – in 1994 and 1996 – as the Tigers twice seized the hard-fought NCAA Division I National Championship. (Of note: as a Princeton freshman, Coach Brawner was a walk-on athlete to the Ivy’s lacrosse and soccer teams. He wound up choosing lacrosse and started his senior year.) These days in Atlanta, Rob plays with Southern Empire and has community coached youth lacrosse, on and off, since 2002.

Day Job: Executive Director, Atlanta Beltline Partnership

“Lacrosse taught me so much about teamwork, personal growth and the value of working hard to achieve a goal. I admire how the Surge focuses on developing a love of the sport within every player, and I am excited to coach with such a dedicated group.”

An attackman from the Rochester area of upstate New York, Coach Byrne started playing in grade school and later attended Irondequoit High, where his team won their Section all four years. (For our lacrosse historians, Irondequoit is located in what was big Iroquois Indian Territory; hence, another Surge coach from the motherland.) Keeping on in the Empire state, Byrne attended Geneseo College, played club, and eventually became the leading scorer in the SUNYAC league. Today, he still plays with men’s league LAX.2002.

Day Job: Vice President, Global Marketing, UPS

“I coach with Surge because I love this sport, and spending time with kids to develop their lacrosse skills and sense of Team.”

A native of Westchester, New York, Coach Carter came to Atlanta with an arsenal of lacrosse accolades. At Byram Hills High School, he earned 2x All-League, Team MVP and served as his team’s captain. At Auburn University, his midfield mastery grew to include 4x All-Conference, 2x Offensive MVP, Player of the Year, Conference MVP Offense while again serving as his team’s captain. Later, Coach Carter assimilated easily into the city’s local club ball scene, playing with the Mad Weasels, Broken Arrows and Peach State Champs, Atlanta Traffic. Recently he scored big on another level: Being inducted as a member of the 2017 Southeastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) Hall of Fame. On the school front, he's the former head coach (four seasons) at Centennial HS as well as the former head coach (13 seasons) at St. Pius. Besides coaching boys, this committed maniac even finds time to coach his daughter’s team at Atlanta LAX Club. As further testament to his boundless lacrosse dedication, Coach Carter flew across the world to participate in the 2018 World Lacrosse World Championship in Israel with teammates Coach O’Brien and Coach Thomas.

Day Job: Teacher, St. Pius High School

“Northside Surge is the perfect way for me to pass the lacrosse torch on to my son and others.”

Coach Coleman is an assistant with the Surge, but no less the athlete. At Gonzaga High School he played basketball and tennis. At Princeton he was a Division 1 rower. At NYL he brings the same dedication, enthusiasm and discipline to the boys that he discovered with sports as a student athlete himself. 

Day Job: Partner, COO and General Counsel of Integrated Financial Settlements, an insurance brokerage company

“I coach because I love this sport – the speed, the agility, the physicality…and mostly because I love working with the kids. I also appreciate contributing to such a well-run league that’s managed by player-coaches who enjoy teaching as much as I do."

St. Andrews School in Boca Raton remains the site where Coach Collins discovered a sports true love: LAX. He played there from 6th grade through high school, where the team won three state championships while this middie earned 2nd Team All-State; 1st Team All-State; and scored an All-American title his senior year. The romance continued with Collins as team captain his junior and senior years, along with being awarded team and state MVP. At the University of Richmond, he stepped back from being a full-time student athlete; instead opting for more casual play with club ball. 

Day Job: Commercial Real Estate Banker/Director, LoanCore Capital, LLC

“I love the interaction with the children and value the opportunity to share the passion that I have for this sport with kids who are learning.”

Everything about Coach Collinson says southern: He grew up in Stone Mountain; went to Woodward; went to Furman; then went to GA Tech. Did he play lacrosse? Nope. Is he one of the best and most gracious assistants our coaches work with? Yep. He’s the guy who helps run drills, coordinates the sidelines, keeps the boys focused to listen, and then helps collect the balls and cones at the end of practice…all with a smile. 

Day Job: Financial representative with Triple F LLC Investments 

“I love the sport of lacrosse because it is very physical and high energy and I enjoy supporting my son’s teams. The Surge is a very well-run league with a keen focus on player development."

Growing up outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, Coach Daniel started playing lacrosse at age 15 – shortly after his football coach put a stick in his hand and suggested he give it a try. A sly recruitment move for sure, as this was the high school’s lacrosse coach as well, and he apparently knew athleticism and talent when he saw it. Shortly thereafter, June, July and August meant one thing: summer-league lacrosse in Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Daniel grew his game to become an All-Conference midfielder, faced off, and later played that position at Hampden-Sydney. In the 80’s, he started a lacrosse program at Christ School in North Carolina and coached the JV -B team (“The Killer Bees”) at Woodberry. Lax love lured him back to the fields in the winter of 2018, and the Surge is better for it. Dabney has lived in Atlanta since 1991 and is US Lacrosse Level 1 certified.

Day Job: Keeping his wife and two dogs happy. He retired as a stockbroker in 2018

“I enjoy being involved in lacrosse and watching players pick it up, “get it” and improve.”

Coach Daniels has been a Surge staple, and favorite, for many years. No wonder. He brings an outstanding playing and coaching resume, and players find his upbeat energy contagious. During high school in Suffolk County, NY, Aaron was a dual athlete with four years starting on both the Half Hollow Hills West football (2x All County; All Division; 2x team MVP, 2 year captain, and finalist for the prestigious Thorpe Award) and lacrosse (2x All County and All Division, 2 year captain, and Suffolk County Rookie of the Year) teams. Phew. At Nassau Community College, this middie chose LAX as a student athlete, and helped his team catapult to the 2000 & 2001 NJCAA National Championships, earned 2002 All-American honors, and served as team captain. A transfer to Long Island University/CW Post secured a 2x semifinalist team distinction in the state championships. In Atlanta, Daniels has coached lacrosse at Collins and Parkview high schools and is currently assisting the varsity and JV teams at Wesleyan, where he has helped the school nab two Gannon Cup championships. He has also hit the road numerous summers to oversee elite travel teams within C2C GA and ThunderLB3.

Day Job: Independent Coach and Trainer for athletes wanting to improve their skills in lacrosse

“Lacrosse is a brotherhood that teaches you life lessons and cements lifelong relationships.”

Coach Edwards is a recent NYL recruit by his long-standing NYL coach bro, Dennis Edwards. A Westchester County, NY native, Coach Edwards started playing in middle school and continued at Fox Lane High School as team captain along with receiving All-Section recognition. A highlight of his early years was being selected as a member of the Hudson Valley team that competed in the Empire State games in 1986. Soon thereafter, Cornell University nabbed this stand-out attack man, and in 1988 the team made it to national runner-up in the finals. In Atlanta, Coach Edwards stayed on the field with Atlanta Lacrosse Club.

Day Job: Managing Partner, Turnstone Group, a private equity investment group specializing in real estate assets

“I wanted to give back to the sport by being part of my nephews’ (and their teammates’) growth and development."  

From the Westchester County area of Pound Ridge, New York, Coach Edwards played lacrosse all four years on his Fox Lane High School LAX team. But it was at Boston College as a four-year LSM starter that the lacrosse bug bit…and hasn’t let go since. Coach Edwards later played club ball with Overlea and Perry Hall in Baltimore and has been coaching youth lacrosse consistently ever since. 

Day Job: Coordinating Producer for CNN Sports

“I enjoy watching kids learn, improve and have fun in a sport I enjoy tremendously. The Surge program does a great job emphasizing those goals. Winning is nice, but at this level it’s not the most important thing.”  

An experienced coach and committed dad, Coach Fellows came to the Surge with deep local ties and years of volunteer youth coaching spanning t-ball (Peachtree Presbyterian), baseball (NYO), swimming (Chastain Park), and as a counselor at Camp Laney for Boys while attending UGA. He joined the Surge community in the fall of 2018, with a son as a member of the Walking Helmets.

Day Job: Vice President, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

“Slower-moving sports have not held my son’s attention. Here, that issue does not exist with ‘the fastest game on two feet’! I enjoy assisting the Walking Helmet coaches by introducing skills, and building player confidence and support for their teammates.”

A goalie from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Coach Fletcher attended St. George’s High School in Newport and then played at Vanderbilt where he was a 3x team captain and All-SELC goalie. In addition to coaching boys, Coach Fletcher can also be found on the fields with Buckhead Girls Lacrosse, helping to coach his daughter’s team.

Day Job: Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Emory and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

“I think the Surge is an incredible introduction to the game but also to the life skills related to a team sport. The camaraderie amongst the coaches (and players) here is amazing and the dedication of the coaches’ leadership is wonderful. Lacrosse is a great sport for children because it combines so much: speed, finesse, strategy, physical contact and endurance into one enjoyable package.” 

When you grow up in Charlottesville, VA, chances are good lacrosse will be part of your life. Such is the case of Coach Green, who started playing there, then moved to Connecticut to play midfield at Salisbury School, then bounced back to Virginia as a middie at Hamden Sydney. He served as team captain and helped the Tigers snag two conference championships, along with competing in the NCAA tournament three times. 

Day Job: Senior VP, Colliers International | Investment Services

“I love the game of lacrosse and working with young kids. I also have a son in the Surge who loves learning the game.”

An Atlanta-native, Coach Haddows’ experience had him introduced to LAX through AYL and later on the Holy Innocents’ lacrosse team in high school, where he won All-State his senior year. He played club at Clemson then bounced back to Atlanta where he served as an assistant coach at HI for several seasons, and has worked at St. Martin’s School for four years with a beginner’s lacrosse clinic offered by the school.

Day Job: Spanish teacher (Pre-k through 5th grades) at St. Martin’s Episcopal School

“I grew up playing many different sports but lacrosse was immediately my favorite. I enjoy helping kids find that same experience and learn how to work with others as a team to gradually excel at the “fastest sport on two feet.”

In the spirit of his namesake, the founder of our nation’s financial system, this UVA 2020 graduate received his MS in Economics…along with some impressive marks in lacrosse. Growing up in Richmond, Coach Hamilton began play with Geronimo LAX from 1st – 6th grades, then throughout his years at St. Christopher’s School and travel lacrosse for Code and Militia LAX leagues. In high school, Hamilton made the cut on Virginia’s Top 22 players to represent the state against Maryland’s best, along with helping his high school team elevate into two state championships. Summer breaks meant playing with Richmond’s Men’s League while also coaching youth lacrosse at local camps. After high school, Hamilton went south to Auburn, where he started on its reputable club team (scoring second for goals and points) then ricocheted back north to UVA where he played on its club team for the next three years. Now new to Atlanta, he continued to do what his own history repeated: Stay aligned with outstanding lacrosse.

Day Job: Associate with 49 Financial

“I coach for Surge because I wanted to get involved with the Atlanta lacrosse community and give kids the same experiences I had; not only as a young player, but also as a young man.”

Coach Hare hails from up, up, upstate NY, on the Canadian border along the St. Lawrence River – where lacrosse was born in the land of the Iroquois and the Algonquians. These logistics help explain why, in the 80s, he skillfully played four years of NCAA DII lacrosse at Syracuse’s LeMoyne College as both a Defender and LS Middie, with a program that’s collected five DII National Championships. Post-college, he packed up for UNC to attend law school; continued to play club ball alongside many Tar Heel LAX alums; then made his way (like the game itself) to Atlanta in the 1990s. Since then, Coach Hare has played for a myriad of men’s club teams here including Atlanta Lacrosse Club, Elephant Lacrosse, Southern Empire and others, with travel to many men’s Eastern tournaments as well. Over the years, his sons have kept him busy serving as a volunteer coach with NYO baseball and football leagues, as well as their travel circuits.

Day Job: Attorney, Ogletree-Deakins Law (Employment focused)

“This is my third season with the Surge and I’m always eager to get back to the field (and my roots) to share my background and youth coaching experience with these young players.”

Coach Hayes says he grew up “wherever the military sent us” but was introduced to lacrosse at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire while playing there as a hockey goalie and a notable MVP. A devotee of the sport, many high school summers were spent coaching at U of Wisconsin’s hockey clinics. Later at Army and West Point, Hayes was a four-year Varsity starter. Experience with hard rubber objects being hurled at him paid off in his transition to lacrosse goalie, which he mastered at both institutions as part of their practice squads. He has coached lacrosse for many years, following his son onto the lax fields when he was in 2nd grade.

Day Job: Director of Financial Services, The Home Depot 

“My #1 goal each season is to have all the players want to come back the next season because they: had fun; improved their game; enjoyed competing (win or lose!); all of the above."

Raised 30 minutes outside of New York City in Armonk, Coach Hefferon attended Iona Prep High School as a three-year defensive starter along with serving as team captain. The stand-out team advanced to two CHSAA state championships and wound up clinching one. Coach Hefferon then went west to Wisconsin’s Marquette University where he played club all four years while served as president and team captain. For several past summers, he led C2C Georgia youth teams to victories throughout the south, graduated college, then came back full time to Atlanta, the city he now calls home.

Day Job: Construction Project Manager, ARCO Design/Build

“Surge Lacrosse is what it’s all about. The league is designed from the ground up to give every player the chance to play, learn, have fun and celebrate the sport. I’m proud to be part of this group who do so much to grow the game we all love."

At Iona Prep in New Rochelle, New York, Coach Hofstetter enjoyed the enviable distinction of lefty attack for four years…and achieved the school’s all-time scoring record. A true LAX lover, he’s been a dedicated community coach since 2007 with organizations including MAYLA and North Atlanta High School as well as serving as a travel team manager with C2C Lacrosse GA. 

Day Job: Manager of Tech Services, Surgical Information Systems

“Lacrosse was an important part of my high school experience and Atlanta needs more opportunities for kids to learn to play. The Surge has succeeded because it gives players a high level of LAX IQ, while keeping the game fun."

While not a New York state law, growing up in Corning (that is, Seneca Indian territory) does require most every boy to carry a lacrosse stick by the time he can walk. Enter Coach Hogue: a lauded player throughout k thru 12, then a recruit to Bucknell for Attack/Midfield. This Bison started all four years and notably, played while the team earned four-time Patriot league champion status. Hogue was also first string when the team became Bucknell’s first men’s lacrosse team (ranked 10^th in the country) to make the NCAA DI tournament in 2001.

Day Job: Senior VP, Sales at Tradeswell, an e-commerce software company

“I was fortunate to learn the game at a young age in one of the hotbeds of lacrosse – Upstate New York. I want to pass along the knowledge and love of the game to youth in Atlanta here with the Surge.”

Growing up on Long Island, NY, it was only natural for Coach Houlihan to wind up on a lacrosse field in the third grade. After all, in that LAX hatchery, what boy didn’t? A later move to Fairfield CT progressed this midfielder’s game further, along with a move to Atlanta playing at Marist, then back up to Long Island, still playing, then back down to Atlanta to nab a spot on the acclaimed GA Tech team. Phew. Today, he still suits up – now with the East Cobb Hogs. Of note: Coach Houlihan is the eldest of 20 cousins, most of whom he played with or coached while growing up. Several of them went on to play DI or DIII, which triggered a love of coaching even beyond his love to play.

Day Job: Director of Finance, Cherry Street Energy

“I signed up for Surge because I love coaching this sport. At the time, I coincidently worked for Coach Tim O’Leary so the annual coaches’ match- up was a big incentive.”

An Atlanta native, Coach Humphries brings an interesting family pedigree to this sport. His dad was inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Georgia Chapter’s Hall of Fame in 2015 for his efforts to help grow the game in our state. And his wife played (and helped to win two DI NCAA championships) for Princeton’s women’s lacrosse team when they both attended the university in the early 2000’s. But back to Josh, no slouch himself. Coach Humphries actually grew up “throwing” with his dad and sis (after all, there were no lacrosse programs yet), and eventually ended up playing competitively on Westminster’s 1996 inaugural varsity lacrosse team, scoring team captain his senior year. An athlete, he wrestled at Princeton and later pivoted back to Atlanta, happy to find his hometown a mecca of youth lacrosse opportunity.

Day Job: In-house counsel for a manufacturing company

“I started coaching with the Surge because my son asked me to and lacrosse runs in my family. It’s just a great sport and I remain impressed with the caliber of boys in the league and the commitment and skill of the other coaches.”

Even though he’s from Winston-Salem, Coach Irvin actually learned to play lacrosse at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. After high school, he ricocheted back to North Carolina to attend Davidson College, where he played D with club ball all four years. Soon after, his Virginia LAX baptism produced a glorious result in the Tar Heel state: Coach Irvin is credited with starting the first public high school lacrosse program in Charlotte. 

Day Job: Banker, KeyBanc Capital Markets

“I enjoy watching kids learn, improve and have fun in a sport I enjoy tremendously. I joined on with the Surge program because it does a great job emphasizing those traits. Winning is nice, but at this level it’s not the most important thing."  

Georgia-bred, Coach James did not have the luxury of playing lacrosse like his northern coaching brethren, but got a nice indoctrination to the sport while attending W&L in Virginia. He has been an avid youth coach for nearly a decade (focused primarily on youth basketball) and continues to help the Surge both on and off the field however he can. Beyond donating his time on the weekends, his company has been been a seasonal sponsor of the league as well.

Day Job: Partner, Eagle Merchant Partners

“The Surge leadership has done an excellent job of putting this league together, and I want to support and foster that in any way I can. Atlanta needs and deserves a top-flight LAX league for kids, and Surge is it!"

In Rumson, New Jersey, Coach Jones attended Woodberry Forest School where his midfield mojo earned him 1st Team All Prep. Later at Hampden-Sydney College, he headed things up as team captain, and later played club ball on the New York Athletic Club B team. Eventually, Jones wound up, like a lot of Yankees, down south. Since 2010, he’s become a Surge staple, rarely taking a season off to coach.

Day Job: Managing Partner, Edge Capital Partners

“My oldest son wanted to play lacrosse and I felt Surge was best because of its focus on fundamentals and sportsmanship. Needless to say, we have a great team of coaches and kids and I plan on coaching here for many more years to come."

Coach Kopelman’s sports experience in high school and college focused primarily in the wrestling arena, but lacrosse factored heavily in his youth at many summer camps in the Mt. Lebanon area of Pennsylvania. Having coached youth lacrosse in Atlanta now for over eight years (from 1st grade through 8th), he’s a great example of “getting” the sport without necessarily getting the trophy. Love of sports could also explain why, as a side gig, he’s succeeded in representing a growing faction of NFL players as their agent.

Day Job: Principal/Attorney at Kopelman Sitton, LLC

“I coach to help instill a love of the game with the players, and an understanding that winning is great, but it’s really all about having fun and getting better. Both of these goals are clearly emphasized at Northside Youth Lacrosse.” 

As an Army brat, Coach Lentz wound up spending his formative years in Douglas, Georgia where “Lacrosse still hadn’t made it to the far reaches of the South.” So instead, Lentz’s athleticism had him on a soccer field through high school, on the intramurals team at UGA, and then playing with various “beer” leagues in town post-graduation. His enthusiasm for play has resulted in an impressive run: community coach for youth sports over the past 14 years in soccer and baseball as his older children cycled through those leagues. But we can thank his youngest son, Cannon, for bringing Coach Lentz to our program as the sibling renegade for lacrosse.

Day Job: Attorney, Truist Bank

“I knew about Surge through friends whose sons play, so I was excited to get out and become involved. I ran into Wes Moss one day and volunteered to help in any way I could. This is my second year being an assistant coach—I can now do more than shag balls. And Cannon and I are loving our Surge experience so far.”

Growing up in the Tar Heel state, Coach Lowrie proved a quick study, learning lacrosse in middle school and soon earning status as a North Carolina all-state attackman at Durham Academy, along with helping to secure two state championships. His devilishly crafty attack skills continued on Duke University’s club team and later, after battling freezing winters in Boston and Philly, Coach Lowrie made a quick roll back home to the south.

Day Job: President, Imedex: A medical education provider

“This is my 4th year coaching with the Surge – As part of the best youth lacrosse league in Georgia, it's a blast to help kids see the same fun, growth, and competition I found in this great sport.”

A Jersey boy from Lawrenceville, Coach Manikin played the sport as a middie/attackman growing up, but never for any specific team. That’s okay. At Northwestern University, he played with the men’s club team which was good enough to make the Big Ten Championship tournament his senior year. Also of note: a term paper on the rise of lacrosse in North America starting with its native American roots, which provides him the league trifecta as a coach, player and scholar. 

Day Job: Director of Information Security, Children’s Healthcare Atlanta

“I love watching young players gain confidence as they learn new skills and then execute on them."

Tuscaloosa-bred Coach Mason played middie at Rhodes College all four years. Apparently the lacrosse gene runs in his family as all three of his children play: his daughter has already received lacrosse offers from DI, DII and DIII colleges while sons play for the Surge, as well as elite lax travel teams. Coach Mason has been coaching youth LAX for several years in Atlanta and is a recent recruit to our coaching line-up.

Day Job: VP, Marketing Intelligence for PulteGroup, a national homebuilder 

“I coach to make sports fun; make sports challenging; to encourage kids to work hard then enjoy the accomplishment…no matter how big or how little."

The simple recipe for writing a bio is taking its “steak” and making it sizzle. However, with Coach McGurn, there’s no need for a grill. At New Jersey’s Mendham High School, he was recognized as a 1993 All American. At Ohio Wesleyan University, his superior attack play lauded him as: a 4x College All American; the 1998 Attackman of the Year; and the 1998 Iroquois National Player of the Year. Later, Coach McGurn became a 2003 inductee into the NJ Lacrosse Hall of Fame, followed by a 2008 induction to the Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame. He’s the youngest of four brothers (who all played the sport), while his dad founded his community’s youth program (Chester PAA Lacrosse) and ran it for 10 years. Enough said.

Day Job: National Director of Sales for CMI Limited, a building products company

“I coach this great sport to give back to the game that continues to give me so much.”

Floridian Coach McLaren is a natural sportsman, with a Notre Dame soccer recruitment to prove it. Once in South Bend, his coach kept him close to the bench during his entire playing career, aware of McLaren’s innate coaching talent. After Notre Dame, he coached youth travel soccer for many years, then continued that with his own boys until (drumroll) he was introduced to lacrosse a few years back. Lucky for us, he hasn’t looked back since.

Day Job: Managing Partner, OMAC Beverage Advisors

“When I was introduced to lacrosse, and more importantly, to Surge, I immediately fell in love with everything the league is about. Paul and his crew share the same passion I have for teaching kids the fundamentals of the game so they grow up to love it and succeed at all levels in their playing careers.”

Memphis-bred, Coach Mealor picked up his first lacrosse stick in the sixth grade and cradled it right into Memphis University School – one of the South’s initial full-fledged lacrosse programs for boys. There, he contributed to his team’s state runner-up finish his sophomore year, along with back-to-back state titles his final two seasons. In high school, Mealor graduated as an All-State midi, All-American selection and as team captain. While stepping away from lacrosse at Washington & Lee University, he’s still marketing his collegiate eligibility in the annual Surge coaches’ game – where injuries continue to plague him.

Day Job: Partner, Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group

“I love coaching lacrosse as much as I’ve loved playing it. My hope is that I can impart a love and appreciation for this great game while helping Surge players get better and grow in sportsmanship.”

Pennsylvania was the state of play for Coach Moss’s initial foray into lacrosse. At Lancaster’s Unionville High School, he played middie and served as team captain during his junior and senior years. Later at UNC Chapel Hill, a coveted Tar Heel spot on the stand-out D1 team eluded him so he continued on with UNC club ball – supersonic in its own right.

Day Job: Partner, Capital Investment Advisors and host of Money Matters on WSB radio

“Surge is one of the best youth sports league (of any kind) in the nation. It empowers kids to learn and love the game so that they’ll enjoy it forever.”

Coach Newberry grew up in Atlanta obsessed with that “other spring sport” which he played through college. However, he grew to love lacrosse years ago by helping to coach his sons, who continued playing through high school. Besides helping to coach youth lacrosse, Newberry has also coached ten years of youth baseball at both NYO and Buckhead Baseball. For NYL, he loves to run drills, help on the sideline and do whatever he can to make life easier for the head coach. Coach Newberry, it should be noted, is also a multi-seasonal sponsor of the Surge – and we appreciate that he puts his money where his mouth(guard) is.

Day Job: Author and head coach of Tommy Newberry Coaching, a business and life coaching service for entrepreneurs 

“Over time, lacrosse has gradually become my favorite sport. It keeps the kids fit and focused and has the best parts of what I like about other sports."

In Connecticut, Coach O’Brien attended New Canaan High School and made a serious commitment as a two-sport athlete in both football and lacrosse. It paid off. Williams College recruited this defensive end/defenseman, where he earned All-ECAC, New England in football, and All-NESCAC in lacrosse. Today, looks like lacrosse has won out in this coach’s weekly athletic focus: He’s a club player with Broken Arrows, Mad Weasels and Atlanta Traffic. Coach O’Brien is also a world player, having participated in the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship in Israel with teammates Coach Carter and Coach Thomas.

Day Job: Director, Global Listings, New York Stock Exchange

“Surge really emphasizes the critical elements of a youth rec league: learning how to succeed as a team and having fun….while also improving individually as a player.”

A Syracuse native, Coach O’Leary started playing lacrosse the moment he could hold a stick…but that play changed after moving to Atlanta as a high school sophomore in 1987, “before anyone here could spell lacrosse.” Instead, he parlayed his athleticism to football at Pope High School as QB and Free Safety. Later at GA Tech, he continued as a Free Safety and played on the 1990 National Championship team. With lacrosse still at his core, he played on the GT club team during the offseason. Coach O’Leary continued his football game as a transfer to Northern Arizona University, where he graduated. He’s been coaching with the Surge since his son started playing in first grade.

Day Job: Managing Director for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he leads the Leveraged Finance team in the Technology sector

“I love coaching lacrosse with the Surge because these coaches work together to teach the game the right way. We intentionally focus on player development versus winning at all costs – plenty of time for that later in life!”

Middle school started things for Coach Peters who played his first lacrosse game in 8th grade as part of the Mountain Lakes, New Jersey rec league. Continuing on as a defenseman, he was named an All-American at Mountain Lakes High School where the team won two state championships, and boasted a 48-game winning streak. Recruited by Georgetown University, Peters’ powerhouse team took part in the 1999 Final Four.

Day Job: Executive VP, Employee Benefits, Pritchard & Jerden

“I coach Surge to give back to the game that has been such a positive influence in my life. Having been coached by two of the country’s best, Tim Flynn (Mt. Lakes) and David Urick (G’town), I try to channel their integrity back to the boys each week."

Back in the day, most 5th grade boys in California shared a similar deficiency with those in the south: little to no lacrosse. But not Coach Roby. He started playing young, with a rare, early-forming club team in Marin County consisting of older players. Later, this tough introduction ensured a three-year start on the varsity lacrosse team at the Brooks School in North Andover, MA. Coach Roby continues the legacy with his son, who started with the sport early, just like dad, only across the country as a Walking Helmet here in Atlanta.

Day Job: Southeast Director for iSpot.tv, the leader in TV ad measurement for disruptive brands

“I loved the skill, speed and physicality of playing lacrosse as a child, and it all comes back to me now working with the Surge community to grow the game here in the south. With our coaches, it’s amazing to see these children develop as athletes in just a few seasons.”

Raised in Atlanta, Coach Ryan can today boast keen insight into significant sports trends: Back in the day, he played with one of the first youth lacrosse teams to assemble in Georgia. As a dad, he made sure his own boys followed his lead, which further motivated this middie to become a Surge coach as well as coach elite travel team ball with C2C Lacrosse GA.

Day Job: Managing Director, UBS Private Wealth Management; head of the Ryan Group

“Surge is the most welcoming recreational league I have been a part of, regardless of sport. Coaching here gives me the opportunity to share the game with new players and make sure the most important lesson is being taught…to have fun!"

When it comes to sports, Coach Scotchie is our Renaissance man. From elementary school through college, Scotchie has played soccer, basketball, baseball, football, track and water sports. What, no lacrosse? An upbringing in Chattanooga says it all. However, he is the 1985 Area Swim League Champ; a 1995 All-City Linebacker and won the 1999 Big Sky Basketball Championship at Vandy – so back off. Currently, Coach Scotchie brings 18 seasons of youth sports coaching (including lacrosse) to the Surge, and for that (along with his storied background) we are grateful. .

Day Job: Civil Engineer for Lowe, a full-service civil engineering, surveying and mapping consulting firm for the public and private-sector

“I volunteer to show kids that hard work and fun can go hand-in-hand. As a coach, I most enjoy watching teammates become fast friends.”

Baltimore is again the site of another Surge coach’s beginnings. Coach Stratton has been playing since he was nine, and attended the Gilman School – a lauded lacrosse powerhouse – where he soared playing attack. Later at UNC Chapel Hill, he gave his game a rest and started swimming, later graduating as an All-ACC. Coach Stratton has sat on the board for the YMCA as well as served as a coach for C2C Lacrosse GA, an elite lacrosse travel league. 

Day Job: Director of Media, Entertainment and Sports for SAS

“I coach because I love teaching kids life lessons through sports.”

In his home state of Connecticut, Coach Theis attended Fairfield College Prep where he served as captain of the lacrosse team. In his junior and senior years, he was recognized with All-State honors. Recruited to D1 Providence College as a defender, he was not only voted MVP all four years…he broke the school’s record in ground balls – not once – but twice. Mike served as team captain and also received All-American nomination his Junior and Senior years.

Day Job: Principal Director and Practice Leader for Accenture, the world’s largest healthcare consulting firm

“Lacrosse players and families are simply the best. The sport develops a unique bond between players inspired by competition, physical play, speed and athleticism. To this day, I’m on a daily text string with my college LAX teammates."

We’ll keep this short, if not relatable, for many Surge parents: Growing up in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Coach Thomas played every other sport except lacrosse because…like dreary, cold weather…there was none. Five years ago, his son picked up the sport – and they have both been hooked ever since. Coach Thomas has studied, learned and coached the sport simply because he remains truly intrigued and impressed by its athleticism and camaraderie.

Day Job: Vice President of Finance at Holder Construction Company

“I love this sport because it’s like nothing I have ever seen or experienced as an athlete myself. It’s so gratifying to see Surge players improve each and every week.”

A Nashville native, Coach Wall picked up his first stick in the 90s…when lacrosse was first starting to pick up in the south. Eschewing his previous involvement in soccer and track, he joined Montgomery Bell Academy’s first rag-tag lax team that MBA would field for its junior school. As a middie, he lettered all four years with MBA’s high school team, which won three state Runner-Up titles. During senior year, Wall was named team captain, along with All State. His switch over to contact sports also translated to the gridiron, where Wall was a 3x state champion and 2x All State middle linebacker. In college, he continued his football career at Washington & Lee University, where he served as team captain and All Conference nose guard his senior year. Each spring, he continued to play lacrosse on W&L’s club team, where he was selected to the conference’s distinguished Club Lax All-Star Team. After a decade-long retirement, Wall now moonlights as a ringer on the Broken Arrows Old Guys Club Lax Team.

Day Job: Director of Strategic Accounts and Marketing at Mansfield Oil Company, a downstream petroleum products distributor

“As a coach, I look forward to instilling the same sense of fun into the boys’ approach to lacrosse that I have enjoyed since I discovered the sport.”