JSerra Catholic High School announced today that Kyle Harrison, one of the nation’s most celebrated lacrosse champions, will coach its lacrosse team for the 2012 season.
Kyle with National Championship Trophy
A three-time All-American in college, Harrison, 27, led Johns Hopkins University to an NCAA Division I National Championship in 2005 and won the Tewaaraton Trophy (the Heisman Trophy of lacrosse) as the National Player of the Year. As a professional, he’s a four-time Major League Lacrosse all-star and a founding partner of the new LXM Pro Tour. He’s also the first lacrosse player ever sponsored by Nike – and remains a Nike athlete today. Harrison is also sponsored by STX, a company that carries Harrison’s own equipment and apparel line called K18. He says STX always will play a major role in his career.
Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport nationwide, with the highest growth west of the Mississippi, he said.
“JSerra is a dynamic school that welcomes and encourages vision, and provides just the environment needed to take on this new challenge,” he said.
Current coach Mike Hutnik resigned to pursue a master’s degree and the school will have an interim to replace him for the 2011 season.
Harrison said he is excited about the group of assistant coaches he is working on bringing from the East Coast. “They are a passionate about the sport, and about working with young men both on and off the field,” he said.
Kyle signing autographs for kids
Harrison added that he plans to work with football coach Jim Hartigan to develop as many two-sport athletes as possible.
Frank Talarico, JSerra’s President and CEO, said he is pleased to add another world-class talent to the school’s coaching staff.
“Kyle is the Michael Jordan of lacrosse,” Talarico said. “In addition to winning the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in lacrosse, he’s also a great guy and will be an incredible mentor and role model for our scholar athletes.”
Harrison isn’t the only world-class athlete coaching the Lions. Aquatics director Julie Swail-Ertel is a two-sport Olympian and Ice Lion coaches Dave Karpa and Guy Hebert are former National Hockey League stars.
