best coaches in nor cal...?

[colin sias]

i just wanted to throw this question out there cause i feel like, especially at the hs level, coaches have a lot to do with the success of a team. this may be a biased decision as i live in oakland and am a berkeley fan, but i really feel as if mike costanzo is one of the better coaches in nor cal. he consistantly has that program at the top despite the fact that the school gives really no love to the lacrosse program. and the players there seem to really respect him.

[Grizz]

I think San Ramon Valley and Scorpion Coach Peter Worstell is one of the best coaches. He has brought a high school program from non-existence to a California high school powerhouse is just a few years. He brings a passion and dedication for the game that is hard to match. Several years ago, when there was no lacrosse in this area, he and a few others developed the Scorpion Lacrosse program, which is now, one of the best youth programs in California. He coaches a 6th grade Scorpion team. He continues to grow the sport by presenting skills clinics and his summer camp, which is one of the best in California. He is involved at the post high school level by coaching the USA West team that travels all over the world to spread the sport. He is involved in a scouting program that assists high school players in the non traditional areas to be recruited by colleges. The ethics and respect for the game that he teaches to his players will positively effect them for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, another one of the best coaches is Adam Lechner of rival Monte Vista High school. Through the Scorpion Lacrosse program, he developed the older players to the level, that when Monte Vista accepted boys lacrosse as a sport, they immediately were a California powerhouse, winning the strong EBAL and the North Coast Section two years in a row. He provides skills clinics and coachers at clinics for the advanced players. He runs the NorCal Grizzlies All Star program for the U17 and U19 players giving them the opportunity to play against some of the top competition in the US. He also coaches a youth team in Scorpion Lacrosse.

These two men, through their efforts and dedication to lacrosse, have changed the sport of lacrosse in California and the west coast, and, I think in the near future, will noticeably impact the national high school game.

[tgr8st]

Iliad Rodriguez

[I Whine]

Wayne Shaffer, quite possibly the best X's and O's coach in california. Brilliant lacrosse mind. Also, Charlie Jackons of Acalanes, great motivator, great coach, great guy.

[chadwick]

I vote Lechner.. yea its biased... dur. but he's taught me to not only be a better lacrosse player but a better person in general. being one of his players i wouldn't say that any1 on the team haa ever questioned his knowledge of the game or life for that matter. and of course charlie jackson's a sav.

[Flandog]

Didn't we already do this somewhere else?

1. Pete Worstell (SRV) - he has an awesome resume and he is building a small empire.
2. Adam Lechner (MV) - like the Zen Master - he gets the players but he wins and the kids love him.
3. Bob O'Meara (DLS) - my favorite coach - low key style and his kids take ownership of the team. They also never give up.
4. Steve Dini (Coach at Cal) - great speaker / motivator.
5. Knute Rockney - (ND) - win one for the gipper. "We'll hit 'em hit high, we'll hit 'em low, and we'll run - run - run ......" (speech from Rudy)
6. John Madden - doesn't he live in Pleasanton?
7. Tony LaRusso - I think he lives in Walnut Creek.

(I like Charlie Jackson as well - just don't know too much about them.) I also think that the Marin Catholic and SI coaches do a great job. They win.

[MJ88]

These two men, through their efforts and dedication to lacrosse, have changed the sport of lacrosse in California and the west coast, and, I think in the near future, will noticeably impact the national high school game.

Not taking anything away from their acccomplishments but you write as if lacrosse was not played in NorCal till it was in the hinterlands....Umm... have you ever heard of Dave Giarrusso...

I'd include Mike Costanzo in any elite grouping of NorCal HS Lax coaches...I think B Hi's accomplishments the past few years speaks volumes...

[Billax]

Lots of excellent coaches named. I'd add Chad Harlow for his results at University. While several lacrosse families sent fine players to University (the Wendells and the Kirchners come to mind), and the Town program feeds a fair number of good players, this is still a very small school with a solid academic reputation. Chad did a fine job with his resources and consistently produced contending programs.

Seeing UHS take on Monte Vista under the lights early last season was very appealing. When the game was going on, nine University players manned the sidelines. That was it. A team of nineteen. And they pulled out an OT victory over the eventual NCS winners!

Chad will be missed at UHS.

[Flandog]

I second that nomination for Chad Harlow.

Also - Dave Giarrusso is a personal friend of mine and I would have mentioned him myself but he moved to NJ. I had a chance to speak with Ben Horn (SI class of 2001 and Navy class of 2005) and he told me that Dave was the single reason he was able to be recruited to a DI program and excell. High praise.

P.S. (I'm a shameless name-dropper.)

[MenloKnight]

of course this is going to be a very biased opinion, but I gotta represent the penninsula teams. Menlo's coach Nate Calhoun is definitely one of the top coaches in Norcal, not only is he a great coach, but all his players love him and he really gets to know everybody. He has lead Menlo to two straight PAL Championships and has been undefeated in league play. He is a mastermind when it comes to writing plays and sometimes I dont know what is going on in that head of his. He is a great engineer of the game because he learned from some of the best at Harvey Mudd. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next season. He is amazing at getting all his players fired up and I have the utmost respect for him, he is truely my favorite coach that I have evr had. He has a great sense of humor and is one of the coolest and chill people I know. Did I mention this guy is absolutely hilarious? Also another coach that has been doing a great job is the Bellarmine JV coach Brad Lipscomb, who in his first year as coach won the PAL JV Championship title and went undefeated in League Play. He is a great guy and can really get his players to rally around him.

I also had the extreme pleasure to be coached by Charlie Jackson on the Norcal U-17 team and this guy is awesome. He is a really nice guy and is a great coach. Thanks to him, I was able to keep myself focussed and entertained in Vail. I would love to spend some more time hanging around with him. Same with Coach Lechner, great guy and a great coach. Watch and episode of COPS with lechner and you will see that he is multi-talented. He knows all the calls and can recite play by play what they do and what they are going to do. Lechner is a fascinating guy and knows how to run a lacrosse program.