NLL: Edmonton Jumps on Jax's Keenan
from press release
The Edmonton Rush have announced that former National Lacrosse
League General Manager and Coach of the Year Derek Keenan has
joined the club.
Keenan will hold down the dual role of GM and Head Coach with the
Rush, a position he is looking forward to filling.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me," noted Keenan. "I think
Edmonton is one of the top pro sports markets in North America and
I believe the Rush are already a big part of the market and the
community."
Keenan joins the Rush following an outstanding tenure with the
Portland LumberJax. In only four seasons at the helm of the Jax, he
guided them to the NLL Champion's Cup in 2008 and to a West
Division title in 2006 becoming the first expansion team in league
history to win a division crown in its inaugural season. Keenan was
named the league's top GM and Head Coach for his accomplishments
during the '06 campaign.
The Oshawa, ON, native is eager to bring his winning ways to the
Rush who are searching for their first playoff berth in franchise
history.
"In order to take the team to the next level, a few personnel
changes will be needed and we will need to address some style of
play issues, particularly our transition play," said Keenan. "I
will go at this job with great passion and a strong commitment to
bringing the Rush to the top of the NLL. It will be a challenge but
one I am more than ready to take on."
Keenan's credentials and coaching style made him the clear-cut
choice for the Rush.
"We are extremely delighted to have Derek on board and expect that
he will get the team going in the right direction very quickly,"
said Gord Sawyer, President of the Rush.
"Our goal is to make the playoffs and put forth a winning and
exciting product - the kind of team the City of Champions deserves
and that our loyal fans have been waiting for."
Prior to the joining Portland, Keenan was the GM and Head Coach of
the Anaheim Storm for the 2005 season. His coaching career began in
1999 as a player-coach with the Toronto Rock and he was part of the
team which captured the Champion's Cup that season. For the next
four seasons, he was an assistant coach with the Rock as well as
the club's interim GM during 2003-04. In total, Keenan was part of
Rock teams that captured NLL titles in 1999, 2000, 2002, and
2003.
Keenan played at Ithaca College in New York where he was a
three-time NCAA All-American and would eventually be inducted into
the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. In the pro ranks,
Keenan was named NLL Rookie of the Year in 1992 and an All-Pro in
1992 and 1993 as a member of the Buffalo Bandits.
