Time out with Coach Keenan

For the better part of the last two decades, Derek Keenan has been involved with the professional indoor game. Entering the league via Buffalo where he played until joining the Toronto Rock for the ’99 season, first as a player then as assistant coach. In 2005 he was appointed the head coach and GM for the Expansion Portland Lumberjacks who would go on to an 11-5 record in their inaugural season. As an east coast Ontario native, now commuting to the West Coast, Keenan has seen it all. Walax caught up with the current Coach/GM to get his thoughts on East vs. West, a little history, and of course the Game itself.

Walax:  You have been in the league a long time both as a player and a coach. In your mind what has the status of the League (NLL) become over the years. Good or bad?
 

Coach:  "The status of the NLL has come a very long way in a relatively short period of time. Compared to other established pro sports leagues the NLL is really still in its infancy. However the growth in over the 20 plus years has been enormous.  There is still a lot of work to be done to establish solid franchises but the foundation is certainly in place. "
 

Walax: You won NLL rookie of the year in 1992 then left for five years only to return and play in the ʼ99 season, why the break?

Coach: "I actually played in '93 in Buffalo as well, both championship years.  I was a 31 year old rookie of the year so I guess it wasn't a normal circumstance.  We were starting a family and at that time it wasn't real practical for me to continue playing.  When Toronto got a franchise in '99 I got an opportunity to come back and I jumped at it.  It was real close to home and it made sense for me to return.  It was the start of a real exciting and successful time in Toronto." 

Walax:  What if any, are the differences you see within Sport on the East coast vs. West coast?

Coach: "I think the biggest difference in both the U.S. and Canada is sheer numbers.  There are more players in the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada.  Consequently you are more likely to see more NLL players from the East then from the West.  This is no knock on the West Coast players; it's simply a numbers thing.  For instance British Columbia has about 10,000 lacrosse players whereas Ontario has around 35,000 lacrosse players. " 
 

Walax:  After working with an unsuccessful Anaheim franchise, what did it mean to start over in Portland and win both the GM of the Year Award and the Les Bartley Award after working under him in Toronto?

Coach: "To win the Les Bartley award was a tremendous personal honor. They certainly named the coach of the year award in honor of the right person. Les was my main coaching mentor and the greatest coach the NLL has ever had.  He was a great friend and there are not many days that go by that I don't think of him. As for the success of that inaugural season in Portland, well, things just kind of fell nicely into place and we had a great season. " 
 
Walax: It appears that there are less Americans coming into the NLL and more Canadians playing the outdoor game, especially at a collegiate level. What are your thoughts about that?

Coach: "On less Americans coming in I would like to see that change.  It seems to go in cycles where for a couple of years we have a big influx of American players and then it slows down.  I think we have done some things over the years to attract more American players but more work needs to be done.  Another factor is that it's logistically difficult to bring East Coast Americans to the West Division to play.  Half the teams are in the West Division so that lowers the numbers. I think it's great that more Canadians are getting an opportunity to play U.S. college lacrosse.  I think Canadian kids are getting that opportunity because over the past 10 years or so there has been a real focus on kids playing the outdoor at the younger ages.  It never used to be that way.  I played U.S. College lacrosse but I never really played the outdoor game much at all until I went to college.  It was pretty well all box lacrosse for me.  Whereas my son started playing outdoor game at 8 years old so that's a huge advantage.  The skill level of Canadian kids will always be strong because of their indoor experience but adding the outdoor element to the program has really helped."

Walax: Do think there are benefits to being able to play both Indoor and outdoor? If so, what would they be?

Coach: "I think one helps with the other.  I think playing outdoor teaches kids about the benefits of athleticism, being fit and playing under more structure.  The indoor game is a real skill game and when you combine that with the athleticism of a good field player you've got yourself a great player in both games. "

Walax: What do you enjoy doing outside of Lacrosse?

Coach: "I enjoy going to the hockey rink with my daughter and son.  They both play high level rep hockey so it takes up a lot of time but I love it.  In my limited free time my favorite pass time is fishing and given all the flying I do I also enjoy reading." 

Walax: Do you have a favorite arena to play or city to travel to?

Coach: "My favorite city to travel to would be Denver.  I also like playing there but only when we win.  It's a miserable place to be if you're getting it handed to you.  Buffalo would be high up there too!"

Walax:  Can you tell us where you hope to be in 5 years?

Coach: "No, but in 7 years I hope to be retired from my "real job" and doing lacrosse full time."  

   ..............wouldn't we all.