The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse association is pleased to announce the organization’s inaugural post season awards. Included are the nomination essays for each recipient.
MCLA Coach of the Year – Joe Kerwin, University of Oregon
I have been involved with the PNCLL, USL-MDIA and subsequently the MCLA since 1999. I have watched the incredible growth of the lacrosse program at the University of Oregon, and it started in 2002 with the hiring of assistant coach Joe Kerwin. Joe brought structure, discipline, and an incredible understanding of lacrosse to Eugene when he arrived. Having played lacrosse at Roger Williams University, Joe brought the “East Coast” style of lacrosse to the state of Oregon, and the once feeble Duck Lacrosse program began to flourish.
Last season Joe took over as head coach at Oregon, and they have steadily ascended into National prominence under his direction.
In 2007, the Oregon Lacrosse program became the first PNCLL member team to hold the #1 ranking in the Nation, after shocking the entire MCLA with dominant wins over #1 Colorado State and #4 Sonoma State in one weekend – followed by another victory over the new #1 BYU only 5 days later.
Oregon played a grueling National schedule this season and finished the 2007 campaign with a 17-2 record and the #3 seed going into the National tournament. In 5 years Oregon has gone from a mediocre team in the PNCLL to a National powerhouse, and Joe Kerwin is the individual most responsible for this transformation.
If you watch an Oregon Duck Lacrosse game, you will see an incredibly disciplined team. They play as a team – relying on a tenacious ride, face-off dominance, great team defense, and an incredibly unselfish offensive scheme. Every facet of their team play is well-oiled and well-executed and obviously well-coached.
Not only does Joe do a phenomenal job with the X’s and O’s of coaching lacrosse, but he inspires his players with his quiet confidence and controlled demeanor. He doesn’t jump up and down and yell and scream. He is always professional and under control. He has a great connection with his kids and it seems they would run through a wall for him. As you watch the Ducks get ready for a contest, you see a group of young men that want to perform for their coach they so greatly respect. Most of all, the Duck players seem to be having fun.
Joe Kerwin is a fantastic coach and I urge you to consider him for the inaugural MCLA Coach of the Year award. His Ducks have had an incredible season, and he has built his team into a National Championship Contender.
Sam Sadtler Service Award – Jason Lamb, Brigham Young University
Nobody has had a greater impact on the MCLA than Jason Lamb, the head coach of the Brigham Young Cougars, and it is time we formally recognize him for all that he has done. Jason was one of the founding fathers of the USILA Intercollegiate Associates, the precursor to the MDIA/MCLA. Along with Sam Sadtler, Sonny Pieper, Bob Korba, Mickey-Miles Felton and Brian Mosher, Jason shared a vision for a national organization governing body to oversee collegiate club lacrosse and to provide a national championship tournament. The group recognized Jason’s commitment and qualifications early on, and he was elected as the first president of the USILA Intercollegiate Associates, a position he held for the first six years of the organization. As president, Jason oversaw the most impressive period of growth for the league. His leadership was integral to the MCLA becoming a more “professional” organization, with more structured governance, better defined eligibility and rules and a national tournament that improved and grew every year. In 1999 Jason led the organization to US Lacrosse, at the time the newly formed national governing body for lacrosse. That relationship was a key to the maturation of the league, and it allowed easy access to most other segments of the lacrosse world, including varsity lacrosse through the US Lacrosse Coaches Council. Jason was the first MCLA representative to that council. When Jason stepped down from the presidency of the MCLA in 2003 (still the MDIA at the time), he remained on the Executive Board in a key role as an advisor and voting member. His experience and passion continued to be incredibly valuable to the cause of the league.
Away from his MCLA administrative duties, Jason has served collegiate club lacrosse in many ways as an ambassador of the game. His team, which has won two national championships, travels the nation to play club and varsity opponents. BYU teams are known for their outstanding level of play, but they are equally known for the professional manner in which they present themselves. BYU remains the first and only college club program to televise home games on a national scale. Jason has coached on the international stage, serving three times as the head coach of the USA West team in Europe, Australia and Japan. He runs lacrosse camps in Utah and throughout the West that spread the game to hundreds of young players every year.
The MCLA would not be where it is today without Jason Lamb. It’s safe to say that lacrosse, in some ways, would not be where it is today without him. Nobody is more deserving of this award. The only question is why we haven’t given it to him before this year?
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:15 pm