BIDDEFORD — While everybody impatiently waits for the snow to go away and for spring to arrive in full, the Biddeford boys lacrosse team is waiting to get on the practice field under a new head coach.
The Tigers have brought in Sean Foley to replace the outgoing Clint Marshall.
Foley has been a lacrosse official for the past eight years, but said he’s been around the game for 40 years, not just refereeing games, but as a player and youth and assistant coach.
“I’m pumped. I’m excited. I’ve watched this program from a start-up, and I’ve reffed games, and watched kids come and go,” said Foley. “I’m excited to get out there and get some lacrosse going.”
“He has a great deal of knowledge and the initial meeting with players was very positive,” Biddeford athletic director Dennis Walton said of Foley. “The players really seemed to like him.”
Foley said he applied for the job last year, when Marshall was debating whether to return or not, and only heard about the opening this year when University of New England men’s lacrosse coach Charlie Burch (Foley works at the university) mentioned it to him.
“We talked a few things over,” Foley said of meeting with Walton, “and he decided to take me in.”
Foley played lacrosse at Newton North High School in Newton, Mass., then played on club teams while in the military and in the summer when he returned to the Bay State. He also has coaching experience at the youth level.
“I want a good showing at the varsity level, I want the JVs to have a lot of fun,” said Foley, “and that’s going to emulate down into the youth programs and get those kids excited about playing, too.
“We have as much interest as any sport in Biddeford.”
Foley said that his first meeting with the players was a positive one, and that “they are excited as I am, it looks like.”
Foley said that he was impressed at how professional the players were at the meeting, and said he hopes that translates to the field.
“I really want a group of kids that are going to concentrate and work on the offensive and defensive plays,” said Foley. “I just want them to concentrate and get the plays in (that) … we practice, and get them into the game.”
Foley said that, despite its recent track record, he thinks the team can put together a handful of wins in his first year.
“We have a good chance, with the kids that are coming back. ”¦ I’m expecting them to win some games. And with that comes the fun,” said Foley. “This is a fun game, win or lose, but you have a little bit more fun when you put some wins up on the board.”
— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or sports@journaltribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.
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