The Atlanta Blaze of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) today announced John Tucker as the team’s first Head Coach and General Manager. John will assume his duties immediately after a very successful stint as the Head Coach of the Boston Cannons.
“We are so excited to have John become our first General Manger and Head Coach. We believe John’s extensive Major League Lacrosse coaching experience and successes along with his outstanding achievements as a player provide a great fit for our organization,” said Blaze owner Peter Trematerra.
Tucker served as Head Coach for the Boston Cannons from June 2013 to the 2015 season. John was recently named the 2015 MLL Brine Coach of the Year. He also served as the Head Coach for the Los Angeles Riptide from 2006 to 2008, earning MLL Coach of the Year honors in 2007 for a Western Conference-best 9-3 season and an MLL Championship Game appearance. He coached the Bayhawks during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
John has led Maryland high school teams to a total of four Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships: three with The Gilman School in Baltimore, and one with Loyola Blakefield in Towson.
As a collegiate player, Tucker helped lead the undefeated Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays team to an NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship in 1984. In international competition, Tucker played for Team USA, winning three gold medals at the World Lacrosse Championships in 1986, 1990, and 1994. Tucker captained the 1990 and 1994 teams, while earning All-World accolades along with being named “Outstanding Midfielder” in 1990. In addition to his awards on the field, Tucker won two championships with the Philadelphia Wings of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1989 and 1990. He was recently named to the NLL Hall of Fame in 2010.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to work with the Atlanta Blaze,” Tucker said. “Peter and Kevin have laid the groundwork for an outstanding organization. Atlanta is a growing lacrosse hotbed that is so excited to have professional lacrosse in their community. The Blaze want to set the stage for increased growth and development of the sport of lacrosse in the greater Atlanta and Cobb County communities. We have some hard work ahead of us yet there is an exciting vision in Atlanta and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
“John is a great coach and even better person, who has a unique ability to build successful teams and organizations. I am so happy to welcome him and Janine to our Atlanta Blaze family,” said Blaze President Kevin O’Leary.
