The Vancouver Stealth announced today that Head Coach and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Chris Hall is retiring from coaching due to health related matters. Hall will remain with the organization as Senior Advisor to the President. In a related announcement, the Stealth have appointed Dan Perreault to the position of Head Coach, effective today.
Hall has been Head Coach with the team since 2009 and won his second National Lacrosse League Champion’s Cup with the Stealth in 2010, having previously coached the Calgary Roughnecks to the championship in 2004.
Under Hall’s leadership the Stealth advanced to three NLL championship games; in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and he leaves his coaching duties having won 96 games and an NLL playoff record of 11 and 6. His 96 victories ranks third all–time in the NLL behind Darris Kilgour (133) and Les Bartley (111), and his 11 playoff victories rank fourth all-time in National Lacrosse League history. Hall is one of only three coaches in NLL history to have won Champion’s Cups with different teams. He was also named NLL Coach of the Year in 2010.
“Words cannot express the appreciation and respect I have for Chris both as a person and as a lacrosse coach. He is simply the best, and he will be greatly missed behind the bench,” commented Doug Locker, Stealth President and General Manager. “I am grateful to CH for his commitment to remain with the team and look forward to continuing to work with him to bring an NLL Championship to Vancouver.”
Discussing his retirement as Head Coach, Chris Hall noted it was not an easy decision,
“Of course this has been a very difficult yet necessary decision for me given my devotion to and love for the game, and my passion for coaching. I have enjoyed every minute of the considerable opportunities I have had to work with many of the game’s greatest players, coaches and administrators. Along with that, I have been blessed in working for a very special owner, Denise Watkins. Her unwavering commitment to the success of the National Lacrosse League, the Vancouver Stealth franchise and the growth of lacrosse in general is incredibly admirable. Moving ahead I look forward to an ongoing connection with the franchise working with President and General Manager Doug Locker with whom I have had a long standing, gratifying working relationship. Finally, I am especially pleased that the organization is handing the head coaching reins to Dan Perreault. I have very much enjoyed working with Dan over the past two years. His knowledge, experience, leadership skills and strength of character will stand the Stealth in good stead. Onward.”
Echoing Hall’s thoughts, Locker said,
“We are extremely happy that Dan has accepted our offer to become the team’s Head Coach and know that he will do an outstanding job moving forward. Chris Hall and I have had numerous conversations regarding this critical appointment, and we both feel that Dan is the right person for the job. I’m looking forward to sitting down with Dan and CH in the coming days to continue our planning for the 2015 season.”
Perreault, who has served as an Assistant Coach with the Stealth for the past two seasons is excited about the new role,
“I’m honoured to have the confidence of Denise Watkins (owner), Doug and Chris. Chris’s retirement leaves big shoes to fill, but the Stealth have a winning tradition and I look forward to infusing my style into the team and fulfilling that tradition in the seasons ahead.”
In addition to his NLL Coaching duties, Perreault is the Head Coach of the New Westminster Junior A Salmonbellies. He was the BC Junior A Lacrosse League Coach of the Year in 2008.
He is a two–time Minto Cup champion and his Junior A playing career continues to stand out as one of the best in history, as he ranks in the top five all-time in career points (third, 536), goals (fourth, 251), assists (third, 285) and games played (tied for first , 133). Perreault played for the Vancouver Burrards of the Western Lacrosse Association finishing his career with 469 points (213 goals, 256 assists) in 182 games. He was inducted to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2009.
