June 30, 2008
from press releases
Former Rochester Knighthawks head coach Ed Comeau has been named the new head coach of the New York Titans. Comeau replaces Adam Mueller, who announced his retirement Monday.
Mueller retires following a franchise-best 10-6 season in New York, in which he led the Titans to the East Division Championship Game. The season brings his all-time coaching record to 45-51, which includes his previous stints in Minnesota and Philadelphia.
Mueller is the only coach in NLL history to lead three teams to the post-season.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity in New York," said Comeau. "I really believe New York was a premier team in the league last year and I'm very excited to work with the players, ownership and staff of the Titans."
Comeau led the Knighthawks to the NLL Championship in 2007, and won the Les Bartley Award for the Coach of the Year as his club won a franchise-record 14 regular season games. The Knighthawks won 15 straight games, the second-longest streak in league history.
The 43-year-old Ontario native also coached the 2008 East Division All-Star team.
"[Titans owner] Gary Rosenbach, [President] John Gagliardi, [Chairman & CEO] Leo Russell and I conducted a thorough search for the best head coach to lead this team to a Championship following Adam's retirement," said Titans COO Tim Kelly. "We are fortunate to hire Ed Comeau as our new head coach. He brings tremendous knowledge and leadership to our team and has experience leading a team to a Champion's Cup."
Comeau was hired as Rochester's head coach in 2005 after spending one year as an assistant coach under Paul Day. Prior to his time in Rochester, Comeau was an assistant coach to Les Bartley in Toronto for five years, during which time the Rock won four titles (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003).
"Ed is one of the highest regarded coaches in lacrosse, he's got four championship rings with the Rock and one with the Knighthawks," said Titans captain Casey Powell. "I'm looking forward to bringing him a sixth ring with New York."
Knighthawks trade Plunkett, Brown to Edmonton for Bonterre
The Rochester Knighthawks announced Monday that club has acquired defenseman Troy Bonterre from the Edmonton Rush in exchange for forwards Lindsay Plunkett and Matt Brown. The pair of forwards were originally drafted by Rochester in Mondays's dispersal draft of the former Arizona Sting franchise.
The trade also gives Rochester a third-round pick in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft and the option for future considerations.
Bonterre comes to Rochester after completing the 2008 season with the Rush, in which he collected one assist, 20 loose balls and 18 penalty minutes in 10 games.
Prior to his one-year stint in Edmonton, the Owen Sound, Ontario, native spent back-to-back seasons (2006-07) with the Buffalo Bandits, registering two points and 92 penalty minues and 32 loose balls in 15 total games. Bonterre made his professional lacrosse debut during the 2005 season with the Arizona Sting, posting career highs with three points (0+3), 36 loose balls and six shots.
