The Chicago Outlaws have signed Geoff Conn to coach them during their offseason pro exhibition season.
†There are two crucial pieces that need to be in place for box lacrosse to be successful in the U.S. The first is Coaching and the second is goal tending.†said Brendan Gorman the captain of the Chicago Outlaws.
Coach Conn seemed like an obvious choice after serving as assistant coach for Team Ireland at last years World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, where he coached current Outlaws Brendan Gorman and Kevin Owens. He has been an assistant coach and film coach for the Calgary Roughnecks, and has coached throughout Alberta at the junior and senior level.
We had the chance to ask Coach Conn a few questions about the MILA and growth of the sport in the U.S.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW U.S. BASED LEAGUES SUCH AS THE MILA AND THE NALL?  If the NLL is to grow, the system that feeds players to the league also needs to grow. Traditionally the NLL recruits from the Junior and Senior Box teams in Canada. American field players have had success in the transition to box, but their numbers are still quite low. With the MILA and the NALL there is a huge opportunity for American box players to develop. Club teams like the Chicago Outlaws make it even easier for the sport to grow. The opportunity for exhibition games between the MILA and the NALL increases the level of competition enabling the athletes to get to the next level faster.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH THE CHICAGO OUTLAWS?  As a Coach, I am always excited to get behind a bench. The Outlaws have an experienced team so I’ll be the new guy. I am looking forward to the experience. I think it’s a great opportunity. I’ll have to get a quick read on the team and the players, assess their skills and bust out a strategy that will compliment what they have been doing and help the team improve. The players will get a taste of a new coach that has a different approach and they’ll get to showcase their talents. It will be fun, adults screaming at each other throwing the ball around. Doesn’t get much better then that.
