Tom Ryan Named Coach of U.S. Indoor National Team

[Sonny]

NEW YORK, NY -- U.S. Indoor Lacrosse has announced Tom Ryan as the Team USA Head Coach for the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

The nine-year NLL veteran, who last played for the Philadelphia Wings in 2002, has amassed 202 points (82 goals, 120 assists) in 95 career games. Tom previously played in Boston and Baltimore, before being dealt to Philadelphia, where he was a member of the 2001 World Championship team. Ryan was also a member of Team USA in 2002, playing for the team that upset Canada in the Heritage Cup.

"This is a great opportunity for me to help promote the indoor game in the United States," said Ryan. "It's always an honor to represent your country, and I am looking forward taking on the world's best in Halifax."

Tom has served as an Assistant Coach for the women's lacrosse teams at Towson University and Loyola College - as well as the men's lacrosse team at Connecticut College, where he earned a Masters degree in Psychology.

"We're very excited to welcome Tom as our Head Coach," USIL General Manager Graham D'Alvia said. "He has an extensive career as both a coach and player, including on the international level. We are looking forward to building a world championship caliber team together with Tom."

A 1994 graduate of Bowdoin College, Ryan was an All-American attackman and holds the school's record as the all-time leading scorer, which includes a 97-point Senior season (56 goals, 41 assists). He also played in Major League Lacrosse, scoring nine goals and seven assists in 14 games for the New Jersey Pride. Ryan currently resides in Baltimore, where he works as Assistant Director of Marketing for deBeer Lacrosse.

The 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship takes place at Halifax Metro Centre on May 14-20th. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Iroquois Nationals and Scotland will join the United States in the one-week tournament.

Open tryouts for the U.S. Men's National Indoor Lacrosse Team will be held on November 25th in the Philadelphia area, and December 1st in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.usindoorlacrosse.org.