Back for its fourth year, the NXT Lacrosse Academy (NLA) looks to help take the high-performing lacrosse players game to the next level. The program has served over 400 athletes and has sold out each of the previous three years. The application process ensures the highest level of competition possible at each session. The NLA is filled with the area’s most talented players from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. 31 Division I and 13 Division III schools have been represented by NLA participants. Last year’s roster featured players committed to Maryland, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Richmond, Hofstra, Salisbury and, Stevens Tech.
In 2018, players across 22 different clubs participated in this training. The NLA offers small group, position-based instruction based on Division I training curriculum with elite coaches from former and current college coaching background. Each of the two sessions is broken up into three training groups, middle school (grad years 2023-2025), high school (grad years 2019-2022) and high school committed training (2019-2020). The high school committed training is back after making its debut last year and is only open to 2019 and 2020 committed players, ensuring the highest level of competition.
Each week prior to working on the field there will be a college level film review led by our NLA staff. Film watched will be relevant to the skills and drills being implemented during the training session. The goal of the NLA is measurable improvement over the four-week academy.
The NLA is directed by Peter Lawrence, who brings 12 years of Division I head coaching experience to the field. Peter is joined by two other former NCAA coaches, Steve Layne, and PT Ricci, as well as eight current NCAA coaches. Five of the 11 coaches have Division I coaching experience, giving players a true Division I college-style training session.
The first NLA session is set to begin on January 6th and run every Sunday through January 27th. The second session will run on Sundays from February 3rd to 24th. All sessions will be held at Main Line Sports Center. Below is a list of the coaches that will be at both sessions.
CURRENT NCAA COACHES:
Jamison Koesterer - UMBC
- Assistant Coach at UMBC
- Two-time National Champion as a player at Johns Hopkins
- Spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach at Ohio State prior to UMBC
Trey Wilkes - Delaware
Charles Giunta - St. Joseph's
Nick Taylor - Haverford College
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Head Coach at Haverford College
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Former Head Coach at Arcadia University for four seasons
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Former Assistant Coach at Cabrini University (2013-2014)
David Alyanakian - F&M
Eric Kluge - Eastern
Gary Mercadante - Ursinus
Evan Zielinski - Neumann
Ron Garling - Cabrini
- Assistant Coach at Cabrini University
- Former Assistant at High Point
- Former Assistant at Lafayette
Kyle Gardner - Neumann
- Head Coach at Neumann University
- 3x All-Conference at Neumann
- 3x team Captain
FORMER NCAA COACHES:
Peter Lawrence (Director of NLA) - Hartford
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Former Head Coach at the University of Hartford (12 years)
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Defensive Coordinator for Team Scotland in the 2018 FIL World Games
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Former Division 1 New England Coach of the Year (2011)
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2x All-American and ODAC Player of the Year at Roanoke College
PT Ricci - Loyola, Towson, Haverford, and Cabrini
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2x MLL Champion and 1x MLL All-Star for the Florida Launch
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Has coached at Towson, Loyola, Haverford College, and Cabrini University
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Former All-American at Loyola University
Steve Layne - Richmond and Loyola
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Former Assistant Coach at Richmond University
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Former Director of Lacrosse Operations at Loyola University
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Was a three-year starter at Loyola University
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To learn more and register for NLA Session I, click here
To learn more and register for NLA Committed Session I, click here
