Warriors Coaching Change

Photo Credit Toronto Rock

One door closes and another opens for various coaches in all sports and given the recent release of the previous coaches for the Vancouver Warriors they officially get their new bench boss.

It’s fair to say that for all teams from Amateur to pro the one that normally takes the fall or “heat” given any loss is the coach rather than the GM who made the initial hire.

It’s a hard business for some to understand, but politics plays a key role in today’s world and as we all know it seems to be who is the more likable person.

Wasting no further time given that it’s lacrosse time in the lower mainland with the playoffs around the corner the Warriors were on the search for someone new.

Given the release of Head Coach Chris Gill and Assistant Coach Kaleb Toth June 3rd they were in search of adding new life to a team that has been under performing the past while while the fan base questions what’s wrong?

Fair to say they went east to get their man and in this case they have hired Troy Cordingley has been named the club’s new head coach beginning in the 2022.23 season. 

Additionally, Phil Sanderson will join the Warriors as an Assistant Coach while Curtis Hodgson (Assistant Coach), Dan Perreault (Video Coach), and Dwight Maetche (Goaltending Coach) have all been retained.

Warriors GM Dan Richardson mentions “We’re pleased to introduce Troy and Phil to the Vancouver Warriors coaching staff for next season and Troy is a passionate coach who employs an exciting style of play and has a winning pedigree in this League both as a coach and a player. 

Phil was an exceptional defensive player during his playing career whose expertise will be a huge benefit to our staff moving forward.”

Cordingley mentioned “I am incredibly excited to be joining the Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team and I look forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get to Vancouver to get started.”

He continued “I am also extremely excited to have Curtis and Phil join the staff. Both are very passionate about the game and were incredible leaders and competitors when they played.”

He won two Championships with the Toronto Rock in 2010 and 2011 and in four seasons with Toronto he had a 38-26 record, finishing first in the East Division twice and never worse than second.

Cordingley (55) most recently served two seasons as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting for the Buffalo Bandits, assisting with player evaluations and transactions while also overseeing the team’s scouting at the professional and amateur levels. 

Previously, he spent 10 seasons behind the bench in the NLL as head coach of the Calgary Roughnecks (2008-2009), Toronto Rock (2010-2013), and Buffalo Bandits (2014-2018). 

He has compiled a record of 103-83 (.554%) in 186 regular season games and a 14-9 record (.609%) in the playoffs.

Cordingley’s coaching resume includes two Champions Cup titles (2009 & 2011) and four Champions Cup Finals appearances (2009, 2010, 2011, 2016). 

He has also twice been named a finalist for the Les Bartley Head Coach of the Year Award (2009 & 2016), winning the award as head coach of the Roughnecks in 2009.

Prior to coaching he played nine seasons in the NLL, recording 312 points (128-184-312) in 87 regular season games with the Buffalo Bandits (1993-1999), Albany Attack (2000-2001), and Rochester Knighthawks (2001). 

In addition he collected 33 points in nine (15-18-33) career playoff games, winning championships with the Bandits in 1993 and 1996.

Sanderson (45) spent 13 seasons as a player in the NLL from 2000-2012 as a member of three NLL Champions Cup teams, which include the 2005 Toronto Rock, 2008 Buffalo Bandits, and 2011 Toronto Rock.

In 192 career regular season games he managed 121 points (25-96-121) and collected 1,266 loose balls, often ranking inside the top 10 league-wide in that category plus an additional five points (3-2-5) in 17 playoff games.

Sanderson calls Oakville home and was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2020. 

He played five seasons of Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A with Orangeville (1993-1998) and 11 seasons with Brampton (1999-2009). 

He also represented Canada internationally on two occasions, earning a Silver medal in 1996 and Bronze in 2010.