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MILESTONES FOR A TRIO OF GOOD GUYS
In the 10-plus years that I have covered college and high school lacrosse I have grown fond of a sport that draws so many special athletes from so many other sports. You find football players, basketball players, hockey players and soccer players all drawn to a sport that provides excellent cross-sport training. In many cases it is - or has become - a primary sport for athletes who have the ability to excel when they play lacrosse.
With that said, due to the standout athletes it draws and the tough competition teams face on a weekly basis, to reach any kind of coaching milestone in lacrosse is special.
Chris Smalkais has been coaching Fairfield Prep boys for 20 years and is three wins away from career victory 250. The Jesuits are 3-1 this season and Smalkais has an impressive 247-115 career record.
Hopkins boys' lacrosse coach Sandy MacMullen, another pioneer in the sport who does what he can to promote it on the prep school and public school level, is in his 29th season as head coach. Every year he scrimmages public schools in the preseason to help them (and his own team) prepare for an upcoming season. He doesn't keep track of records and has no idea what his career record might be, but I'd be willing to guess he has around 325-plus wins.
Branford boys' coach Brian Adkins focuses primarily on his players and doesn't care much about publicizing personal milestones. And he might get upset with me for noting his milestone. But in the second game of the season, a win over Conard, he won his 100th career game. The Hornets are off to a 4-0 start and his overall record is 102-77.
Smalkais, MacMullen and Adkins have proven year after year what kind of special coaches they are, taking whatever talent they are given and molding it into a winning effort. They are perfect examples of the top-notch boys' and girls' coaching you see in the New Haven area and throughout the state overall.
And throughout my life I've always been strongly in favor of gender equity. If there are any girls' lacrosse milestones that have been reached or about to be reached this season, whether it's for a coach or player, please let me know.
With that said, due to the standout athletes it draws and the tough competition teams face on a weekly basis, to reach any kind of coaching milestone in lacrosse is special.
Chris Smalkais has been coaching Fairfield Prep boys for 20 years and is three wins away from career victory 250. The Jesuits are 3-1 this season and Smalkais has an impressive 247-115 career record.
Hopkins boys' lacrosse coach Sandy MacMullen, another pioneer in the sport who does what he can to promote it on the prep school and public school level, is in his 29th season as head coach. Every year he scrimmages public schools in the preseason to help them (and his own team) prepare for an upcoming season. He doesn't keep track of records and has no idea what his career record might be, but I'd be willing to guess he has around 325-plus wins.
Branford boys' coach Brian Adkins focuses primarily on his players and doesn't care much about publicizing personal milestones. And he might get upset with me for noting his milestone. But in the second game of the season, a win over Conard, he won his 100th career game. The Hornets are off to a 4-0 start and his overall record is 102-77.
Smalkais, MacMullen and Adkins have proven year after year what kind of special coaches they are, taking whatever talent they are given and molding it into a winning effort. They are perfect examples of the top-notch boys' and girls' coaching you see in the New Haven area and throughout the state overall.
And throughout my life I've always been strongly in favor of gender equity. If there are any girls' lacrosse milestones that have been reached or about to be reached this season, whether it's for a coach or player, please let me know.
posted by Dan Nowak at
10:24 AM
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