Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com
Garden City’s boys lacrosse team earned plenty of accolades this past spring, finishing 22-0 and winning the Class B state title.
Today, the Trojans’ coach earned a prestigious honor of his own.
Steve Finnell was named the 2012 coach of the year by the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association.
The NILCA made the announcement with the following press release:
ST. LOUIS – The National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association is pleased to announce Steve Finnell, head coach of Garden City High School, as the 2012 Coach of the Year.
Finnell led Garden City to an undefeated (22-0) 2012 season, the New York State Class B lacrosse championship, and the top ranking in the country. Coach Finnell came back to coach at his alma mater in 2003 joining then head coach Doc Dougherty’s staff as an assistant. He became head coach in 2007.
Finnell’s Garden City lacrosse teams have won a record six straight Nassau County championships. In addition, they have captured the last three Long Island titles and have played in three state finals, culminating with last season’s thrilling 11-4 triumph over Irondequoit. His teams have compiled a record of 109-19 while playing schedules laced with nationally-ranked teams.
Finnell is known for his outstanding knowledge of the game and his tireless preparation. He is an outstanding communicator, skills he uses not just on the field and in the classroom, but in his considerable dealings with the New York area media. His players and staff both like and respect their coach who, at 37, has already accomplished what few in his profession have done.
“We are thrilled to have named Coach Finnell as the NILCA Coach of the Year,” said Ren Pettinelli, President of the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association. “Finnell epitomizes everything a program could want in a coach, teacher, and mentor.”
Finnell will be honored at the IMLCA meetings in December.
NILCA was formed to provide dedicated service to high school lacrosse coaches throughout the United States. NILCA seeks to identify and provide solutions to issues raised by men’s high school lacrosse coaches. NILCA will again be conducting its annual meeting the first week of December during the IMLCA Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. A detailed schedule of meetings and presentations will be available at the IMLCA web site, www.lacrossecoaches.org.
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Posted In: Section 8
Never heard of this actual award before reading this, but still a great honor for GC and Coach Finell.
Well deserved. Congrats to you Coach!