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Southern Methodist University has hired Alex Poole to be the new head coach of its men’s lacrosse team.

Poole played four seasons at the University of Maryland, where he started at middie in his junior and senior years. In 2007, Poole served as an assistant coach on the Texas High School Lacrosse League Division I state champion Episcopal School of Dallas varsity team.

Poole replaces Tom Greene, who will stay on with the program as an assistant. Greene led the Mustangs to a 12-5 record last season. Assistant coach Chip Hiemenz will be retained.

“Over the last few years, I have become a huge fan of SMU lacrosse,â€

Tom Greene leads the team to a 12-5 record. SMU hires Poole, a high school coach, and Tom Green is demoted to assistant. Why does this not sound right?

Because it's a club sport?

I played for Tom Greene and he is a great coach, along with Chip Hiemenz. However, even though SMU was successful, it always seemed like we could never get over the hump. Talent wise, the SMU team blows away any other team in Texas. I don't know the new coach, but I saw an article that said US Lacrosse named him Boy's Coach of the Year, so he must be a great teacher/leader. Tom has done more for the program in the past few years than pretty much anyone ever has, but this move will hopefully push SMU over the hump and get them into the National Tournament. Here's the article.

BALTIMORE– US Lacrosse and its Youth Council have announced the winners of the 2008 Youth Excellence Awards. US Lacrosse will honor these eight individuals from around the country at the eighth annual US Lacrosse Youth Council Awards Breakfast on January 17, 2009. The awards breakfast takes place during the US Lacrosse National Convention in Baltimore.

Boys’ Coach of the Year
Alex Poole – Carrollton, Texas
Poole, a former Maryland men’s lacrosse player, has been the Episcopal School of Dallas’ boys’ lacrosse coach for the past five years. In that time, his communication, passion for the game and ability to motivate his players has yielded great results. Poole also demands sportsmanship from all of his athletes. He is known as a teacher and a mentor to his players, encouraging positive sportsmanship and positive reinforcement. Poole treats everyone with respect and insists parents and players do the same. He works diligently to promote the game at the youth level, working tirelessly to teach kids the skills and attitudes necessary to be successful in the sport. Since Poole has been the coach at the Episcopal School of Dallas, lacrosse participation has doubled – an amazing feat in a state where football is king.

this was posted in august.

Article from the MCLA website:

http://www.collegelax.us/news/2008/08/2 ... lex-poole/

[quote]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SMU Lacrosse

DALLAS, TX (August 22, 2008) – The SMU Mustang lacrosse program is pleased to announce the hiring of Alex Poole as its new head coach effective immediately.

Coach Poole, a Maryland native, was a four year letter-winner in high school on the varsity lacrosse team at St. Paul’s in Brooklandville, Maryland. In addition to captaining the squad during his senior year, he was named lacrosse midfielder of the year upon the conclusion of the season. After high school, he received a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Maryland where he earned varsity letters during each of his four years and started at midfield his junior and senior seasons. Throughout the course of his career, Poole was named to the ACC All-Academic team and was twice awarded the Faber-Hagy Trophy as the team’s unsung hero.

After graduating from Maryland, Poole moved to Dallas and joined the coaching staff at Episcopal School of Dallas, where he served as offensive coordinator. During his four years at ESD, the Eagles played in three state championship games, claiming the 2007 title. Poole has continued to be an active member of the booming lacrosse community in Dallas. He serves on the board of Friends of North Texas Lacrosse, an organization that provides funding for new programs, and he is a certified Level I Trainer for US Lacrosse.

Former head coach and two-time Lone Star Alliance (LSA) Coach of the Year, Tom Greene, will remain with the program as an assistant coach on the field and as director of business operations off the field.

According to Greene, adding a coach with over twenty years of lacrosse experience playing and coaching at the highest levels was an opportunity the program could not decline. “To have one of the premiere coaches in this part of the country contacting us about coaching at SMU is a true testament to what we’ve been able to accomplish in just a short time… This easily ranks as some of the biggest news in the history of SMU Lacrosse, a truly proud day,â€

the team will make the mcla tourney this year

A lot of things have to go right, but this year has great potential for SMU Lacrosse. Potential top 25 status can be achieved. . .

Looks like a potential great season for the Stangs. Last year finished well by going to the playoffs. The depth of the program is something to be proud of....