BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) are pleased to announce the hiring of new head coach Sean Quirk. Quirk was formally the head coach of NCAA DIII powerhouse Endicott College men's lacrosse program and is excited to make the jump to the professional ranks, becoming the sixth head coach in the Cannons' history.
"I am thrilled to bring Sean on board as the next head coach of the Boston Cannons," said Cannons General Manager Kevin Barney. "Sean's resume from his college playing days to eighteen years at Endicott College shows he is a winner and he will be bringing that pedigree of success to the Cannons."
A native of Cheshire, Connecticut, Quirk is currently and will remain the Associate Director of Athletics at Endicott College. As a student-athlete, Quirk led the Springfield Pride to the 1994 Division II college lacrosse championship. A two-time All-America selection, and 1995 goalie of the year, Quirk's winning form on the field helped to establish the base of his championship pedigree as a coach. After graduating from Springfield, he served as an assistant coach from 1996-97, before accepting the head coaching position at Endicott the following year.
Quirk took over an Endicott squad in 1998 that featured just 19 student-athletes. Now, in 2015, the Gulls' lacrosse program has evolved into a nationally recognized contender under his watch.
In 18 seasons, Quirk led the Gulls to an impressive 243-95 record overall, including nine NCAA tournament appearances. His impressive winning percentage .918 (123-11) in conference play made Endicott a perennial power in NCAA Division III play, and created a culture of success that transcended the game of lacrosse.
"I am extremely excited," said Quirk. "I want to thank Kevin Barney, Rob Hale, Ian Frenette and the entire Boston Cannons organization for the opportunity to be the next head coach of this prestigious club. I would also like to thank the administration at Endicott College for all the support and guidance as the Associate Director of Athletics through this unique challenge with the Cannons."
Quirk has an abundance of experience developing MLL talent on the collegiate level. Eric Hagarty '10, Jon Ortolani '07 and Patrick Gaffney '07 are examples of Quirk's ability to assess and recruit next-level talent, a skill he hopes will help him scout deep and talented MLL rosters.
In his final season at the helm of the Endicott lacrosse program, Quirk led the Gulls to a 16-4 record, before stepping down in early May. Current Boston Cannons goaltender, Eric Hagarty, was named his successor as the head coach of the men's lacrosse program at Endicott.
"I look forward to getting to work with a talented group of men on and off the field during the 2016 MLL season,"Quirk said. "I've already spoken with a few of the players, and I know they are hungry for the season to begin, they are already dedicating themselves now in preparation for a great year."
Quirk takes the reigns of a Boston Cannons squad that exceeded many pundits' expectations in not only qualifying for the 2015 MLL playoffs, but taking the eventual champions New York Lizards to overtime in the MLL semifinals.
The Cannons 2016 protected roster will be announced later today, revealing the teams 12 protected players for next month's Expansion Draft. The Cannons' 2016 season tickets will go on sale later this month.
(release courtesy of Boston Cannons Media Relations)
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