Nov 23rd, 2009

Stealth Announce 2010 Coaching Staff Additions, Stroup to Lead Offense

The Washington Stealth have announced three new members of the coaching staff.  Dan Stroup, Dave Evans and Rick Lum will join Stealth Head Coach Chris Hall and defensive coordinator Art Webster on the bench for the 2010 season.

Hall returns for his second season with the Stealth and with it a new-look coaching staff.  He took over the head coaching duties midway through last season after the Stealth opened the season with a 3-7 record.  Hall led the team to a 4-2 record in the last six regular season games and a playoff run that ended at the West Division Finals.  Prior to joining the Stealth, Hall spent 37 years as a lacrosse player and coach, earning the highest honors at every level.  As a coach, Hall won the 2004 National Lacrosse League title with the Calgary Roughnecks.

Webster returns to the Stealth for his fifth season as the team’s defensive coordinator.  Webster is a Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer as a player.  He played in 558 games with the Victoria Shamrocks and Brampton Excelsiors, amassing 621 points on 174 goals and 447 assists.  He won a pair of Mann Cup titles and reached the finals seven times.  He went on to become the defensive coordinator for the Shamrocks, where he helped lead the team to five straight Mann Cup Finals, including two titles.  In 2002, Webster was named co-WLA Coach of the Year.  He just finished his second season as the Shamrocks Head Coach.

Stroup has been named the offensive coordinator of the Stealth after spending the last 13 seasons as a player in the National Lacrosse League.  He takes over a Stealth offense that ranked third in the NLL last year.  During his outstanding career, Stroup logged over 300 goals and over 500 points.  The future hall of famer won three NLL titles with the Toronto Rock and another with the Colorado Mammoth.  He also won a Mann Cup in Canada with the Coquitlam Adanacs and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the inaugural World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.  “Dan has had a long and storied career in the NLL and we look forward to him being able to transfer that knowledge, skill and experience to our Stealth offense,” said Hall.  “It should be an easy transition for Dan and I know he will quickly gain the respect of the players.”

Evans joins the Stealth as the goaltenders coach. The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer brings with him over 40 years of experience as a player and coach. Evans played his Senior A ball in Canada for the Vancouver Burrads for ten seasons, and was Goalie of the Year in 1973.  He was named the WLA playoff MVP in 1973 and 1977, was a three-time All-Star and won the Mann Cup in 1977.  He also played professionally in the NLL for the Montreal Quebecois in 1975, where he won top goalie honors.

Evans’ coaching career is nearly as impressive.  He was the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Wings from 1988-1993, winning a pair of championships in 1988 and 1989.  He also spent three seasons as the General Manager of the NLL’s Vancouver Ravens.  Prior to the NLL, Evans also coached Vancouver in the WLA.  He went on to coach Northshore for two seasons in 1995 and 1996.  He even branched out to the women’s game, coaching the British Columbia Provincial team from 1983-1989 and the Canadian Women’s National Team in 1989. “He is widely considered in the indoor game as a top teacher of goaltending skills and his decades of experience in this regard is a welcome addition to our staff,” said Hall.

Rick Lum is entering his first season with the Washington Stealth as the team’s video coordinator and advanced scout.  He brings 36 years of experience as a player, coach and official to the position.  Most recently, NLL fans would recognize Lum as one of the most decorated officials in the league.  During his tenure, which ended after nine seasons in 2009, Lum refereed five NLL Championship games, two All-Star games and one international game between the United States and Canada.  In 30 years as an official for the Canadian Box Lacrosse Association, Lum appeared in eight Minto Cups and seven Mann Cups.  In 1996, he was named the British Columbia Lacrosse Officials Association Referee of the Year.

Lum began his coaching career in 1998 and spent two seasons in the Coquitlam Adanacs minor lacrosse association.  After a nearly ten year hiatus from being behind the bench, Lum returned to the coaching ranks with the Adanacs Junior A squad in 2007.  In three years, the team won two league titles and appeared in the 2009 Minto Cup with a 20-1 record.  “Lum brings a wealth of experience to our coaching staff and will be an important addition in our preparations all season long,” said Hall.

The coaching staff will have its hands full as the Stealth prepare for the 2010 season, which starts January 9 at the Comcast Arena at Everett.  34 players have been invited to participate in training camp beginning December 5.  That number will be narrowed down to 26 players, including three practice roster spots.  “Camp will be highly competitive,” said Hall.  “We have a good mix of returnees, free agents and draft picks all of whom will be giving it their all to make the final cuts.”

Season tickets for the Stealth’s inaugural season at the Comcast Arena start at just $75 and are on sale now.  You can get information on all the Stealth ticket packages by calling 877-MY-75-TIX or online at www.stealthlax.com.