Mark Stehlin
Dec 9, 2024
With the start of the 2024-25 Arena Lacrosse League (ALL), the defending champion Whitby Steelhawks have announced Ryan Degerdon as their new Head Coach.
With the start of the 2024-25 Arena Lacrosse League (ALL), the defending champion Whitby Steelhawks have announced Ryan Degerdon as their new Head Coach. He makes the move from his Assistant Coach spot last year.
Steelhawks General Manager, Will Petschenig, reported that 2023-24 ALL East Coach of the Year, Joel Johnson stepped aside for personal reasons. Petschenig said “Joel has such a passion for the game of lacrosse. Seeing him win the ALL Championship last season was something very special and something that I believe he will always hold close to his heart after his father Barry was one of the original founders on the Steelhawks in the 1990s. Joel is the reigning ALL coach of the year and had tremendous success with the Steelhawks organization. “
Petschenig said of Degerdon, “with big shoes to fill, Ryan (Degerdon) is ready to guide this team to another championship. Ryan shares the same passion for lacrosse as Joel, I have no doubt he will do an incredible job with the organization. He is surrounded by an incredible group of players and assistant coach Brad Reed. “
Ryan Degerdon said, “this is my second year on the bench with the club coming off our championship season last year.” Degerdon said, “moving into the head coach role is a natural progression for me and I have the same goal to have a championship environment that Joel helped to build here.”
Degerdon added, “it’s good having Brad continue as the D coach and the link to the Brooklin Lacrosse Club and the Brooklin Merchants is clear. This gives us a chance to building up that winning culture year-round.”.