The Durham Turfdogs are pleased to announce their coaching staff for the 2014 season. Leading the team behind the bench will be Head Coach Paul Stewart, and working alongside him will be assistants Steve McCarthy and John Munroe. Turfdogs GM Dave Colbourne said, “I am incredibly excited about this coaching staff. They all bring a wealth of experience to the team, and I’m confident in their abilities to bring a Creator’s Cup to Durham.”
Head Coach Paul Stewart is an Oshawa native and has been involved in lacrosse for 25 years. As a player, Stewart played both with Six Nations and Brooklin. Stewart brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Turfdogs having coached internationally with Team Canada and Ireland, as well as in the NLL with Minnesota, New York, and Philadelphia. Additionally, Stewart has spent time behind the bench with the Clarington Green Gaels, Brooklin Merchants, Ajax Rock, Six Nations Chiefs, Brooklin Redmen and numerous minor lacrosse teams in the Oshawa and Whitby area. Stewart said, “I look forward to coaching in my hometown in front of my kids and their minor lacrosse teams, and building a team that young local lacrosse players can look up to and aspire to be like.”
Assistant Coach Steve McCarthy is a Brampton native who spent his Junior career with the Brampton Excelsiors and Peterborough James Gang, which won a Minto Cup in 1983. McCarthy went on to a successful Senior career with the Brooklin Merchants, capturing a Silver Medal at the President’s Cup in 2000. McCarthy also played field lacrosse with Brampton, Oshawa, Clarington and Brooklin. Behind the bench, McCarthy has served as Coach and GM with the Brooklin Merchants since 2004, winning the OLA Senior B Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008. In addition to this impressive resume, McCarthy has also coached Midget and U19 with the Brampton Excelsiors, Clarington Green Gaels and Brooklin Barrage field lacrosse programs, winning the Ontario Provincial Championships twice.
Assistant Coach John “Munzy” Munroe was raised in Peterborough, and currently resides in Newmarket. Over his 44 year career, Munroe spent time as a player with the Peterborough Lakers, winning 2 Mann Cups, and a Minto Cup. He then went on to play with the Guelph Power CDN NLL Championship team. As a field lacrosse player, Munroe won a Silver Medal as a member of the 1986 Team Canada squad. He has also won two Sr. Men’s National Field Championships with Peterborough. As a coach, Munroe has spent time in the NLL with Rochester, New York and Orlando. In the OLA, Munroe has coached the Markham IronHeads, Kitchener Braves and various other minor teams in Peterborough, Kitchener and Newmarket. Recently, Munroe has also spent 3 seasons behind the bench of the Wilfrid Laurier Field Lacrosse Team.
