MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - New York Titans head coach Adam Mueller has won the National Lacrosse League's "Les Bartley Award", presented each season to the Head Coach of the Year. In the franchise's second season, the Titans compiled a 10-6 regular season record, a six win improvement from their 4-12 record as an expansion team in 2007. The 10-6 also tied for best record in the league this season. The Titans are the first second-year club to grab a share of the best record in the league since the Toronto Rock achieved the feat in 1999.
Under Mueller's leadership, the Titans finished the regular season 9-2 after starting the year with a 1-4 record. The team is poised to make a run at the Champion's Cup in just their second season.
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Mueller becomes the first head coach in the league history to lead three different teams to the post-season. He previously earned playoff berths as head coach of Minnesota (2006) and Philadelphia (2002).
The Head Coach of the Year award is named in honor of the late Les Bartley, whose contribution to his teams, to the NLL, and to the game of lacrosse is immeasurable. Bartley, who lost his battle with colon cancer in May of 2005, left behind a coaching legacy. He won seven championship rings in his twelve year coaching tenure and is the league's all-time winningest coach. Bartley tallied an astonishing 93-38 regular season record behind the bench.
Previous winners of the Les Bartley Award for Head Coach of the Year include Ed Comeau (2007), Derek Keenan (2006), Bob Hamley (2005), Paul Day (2004), Darris Kilgour (2003), Bob McMahon (2002) and Tony Resch (2001).
General Manager of the Year--Marty O'Neill, Minnesota Swarm
Minnesota Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill has won the 2008 General Manager of the Year Award. O'Neill helped build the Minnesota Swarm franchise from day one and has assembled a team that has quickly found success in the National Lacrosse League.
The Swarm finished with a 10-6 record in 2008, and hosted the first home playoff game in the club's four year history. Minnesota has advanced to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons under the leadership of O'Neill.
O'Neill joined Swarm for their inaugural season in 2004, being named the first-ever general manager for the team. The former goaltender oversees all aspects of lacrosse operations with the club, including all matters relating to the club's player personnel, coaching staff and scouting, as well as assisting the marketing and promotional departments.
Through his efforts with the team, O'Neill has helped build a successful franchise both on and off the floor. The Swarm have improved their win-loss record every season and have qualified for the playoffs each of the past three years.
O'Neill also won the GM of the Year Award last season (2007).
Previous winners of the General Manager of the Year Award include; Derek Keenan (2006), Bob Hamley (2005), Johnny Mouradian (2004), Kurt Silcott (2003) and Dave Evans (2002).
The National Lacrosse League will continue to announce the winners of the league awards for the 2008 season through May 15th. The announcements continue on Monday with the Defensive Player of the Year and Transition Player of the Year Awards. The announcements will continue next week, leading up to the announcement of the Most Valuable Player for the 2008 NLL season on Thursday, May 15th. The MVP announcement comes just prior to the weekend of the 2008 Edge NLL Championship Game, to be played on the weekend of May 16-18.
The schedule of announcements is as follows:
2008 NLL Season Awards
Monday 5/5
Sportsmanship Award, presented by Dodge (Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth)
Community Service Award, presented by Progressive (Chris McElroy, Edmonton Rush)
Tuesday 5/6
Executive of the Year (Tom Garrity, Minnesota Swarm)
"The Tom Borrelli Award" for Writer of the Year (Paul Tutka, NLLInsider.com/Inside Lacrosse Magazine)
Ticket Sales Executive of the Year (Joel Jordan, Minnesota Swarm)
Marketing Executive of the Year (Brian Kitts, Colorado Mammoth)
Operations Executive of the Year (Jimmy Butler, New York Titans)
Sponsorships Executive of the Year (Dave Reeder, Colorado Mammoth)
Public Relations Executive of the Year (Terri Workman, Toronto Rock)
Equipment Manager of the Year (Jimmy Butler, New York Titans)
Athletic Trainer of the Year (Sherri Lashomb, Buffalo Bandits)
Wednesday 5/7
Goaltender of the Year, presented by the US Navy (Bob Watson, Toronto Rock)
Thursday 5/8
"Les Bartley Award" for Head Coach of the Year (Adam Mueller, New York Titans)
General Manager of the Year (Marty O'Neill, Minnesota Swarm)
Saturday 5/10 Divisional Final Games
Monday 5/12
Defensive Player of the Year (for a defenseman, non-goaltender)
Transition Player of the Year
Tuesday 5/13
Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team
Wednesday 5/14
All-Pro Team
Thursday 5/15
NLL 2008 Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Reebok
(end of award announcements)
Friday 5/16 -- Sunday 5/18
2008 Edge NLL Championship Game (Date/Time TBD)
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