TORONTO – The Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club is pleased to announce the hiring of Troy Cordingley as head coach for the 2010 season.
Cordingley, who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the Calgary Roughnecks brings along a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Rock this season. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Bandits since 2003 alongside head coach Darris Kilgour.
“I am very excited and looking forward to this challenge,” said Cordingley. “I’d like to see the Toronto Rock back where they belong.”
Rock GM Terry Sanderson who coached alongside Cordingley for the past two seasons as assistant coach with the Roughnecks says they “broke the mold” with Cordingley.
“He is one of the most passionate lacrosse people you’ll ever come across,” said Sanderson. “He will bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to this team.”
Cordingley, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bandits in the 1993 NLL Entry Draft, played with the Bandits for most of his playing career from 1993 to 1999 followed by two seasons with the Albany Attack in 2000 and 2001. He won two NLL championships as a player with Buffalo in 1993 and 1996.
Named NLL Head Coach of the Year in 2009, Cordingley led the Roughnecks to a league-best 12-4 regular season record and finished the top overall seed in the 2009 NLL Playoffs. In addition, he led the team to the 2009 NLL Champions Cup victory over the New York Titans, 12-10.
“Troy is very committed to doing the job right,” said Sanderson. “This was proven when he left his young family (in Oakville) nearly every weekend during the last two NLL seasons to do a job for Calgary. I think that speaks volumes for the type of commitment we’ll be receiving here in Toronto by hiring Troy.”
“This means a lot to me and my family,” said Cordingley about coaching closer to home this season. “I can go home after every game now and am not going to miss very many (of my kids’) hockey games and dance recitals,” he added.
In his estimation, Sanderson refers to Cordingley as “a players coach” who will no doubt receive the utmost respect from the Rock roster.
Having not been out of the game as a player for very long, “(Troy) can relate to today’s lacrosse player especially well,” Sanderson said of Cordingley’s connection with the players.
