Major League Lacrosse (MLL) announced today that Brian Reese will be the assistant coach for Team Ice and Paul Cantabene and Spencer Ford will be the assistant coaches for Team Fire in the 2019 MLL All-Star Game (view the helmets for the game that will be worn by Team Fire and Team Ice here), set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday at Navy Marine Corps. Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We are honored to have Major League Lacrosse legends back on the sideline for the All-Star Game,” said MLL Commissioner, Alexander (Sandy) Brown. “Brian, Paul and Spencer have been cornerstones to the development of Major League Lacrosse and have remained leaders in the lacrosse community. I am sure each sideline will greatly benefit from their expertise this weekend.”
Paul Cantabene will be joining head coach, B.J. O’Hara and team captain, Rob Pannell, to help lead Team Fire in the 2019 MLL All-Star Game. Cantabene, originally from Rochester, New York, first moved to Maryland to play for Loyola University, where he graduated in 1993. Cantabene began his Major League Lacrosse career when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2001 MLL Inaugural Draft by the Bayhawks. In six seasons with the Bayhawks and Philadelphia Barrage from 2001-06, he played in five championships, winning three in 2002, 2004 and 2005. In addition, he was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-MLL selection and recipient of the SoBe Iron Lizard award in 2002. Most recently Cantabene was an assistant coach for the Chesapeake Bayhawks under Coach Dave Cottle. Cantabene was inducted into the Rochester Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003. In his illustrious coaching career, Cantabene has coached for The McDonogh School, Johns Hopkins, Towson University, the University of Maryland, the 2010 FIL World U.S. Men’s Lacrosse Team and currently is the head coach for Stevenson University.
“The MLL All-Star Game has always been the most fun game of the season for the players and for the fans,” said Cantabene. “I can’t wait to now take part as a coach; helping B.J., Spencer and Pannell lead the new generation of MLL stars like Currier, Woodall and Molloy.”
Spencer Ford will also be joining coach, B.J. O’Hara, and team captain, Rob Pannell to help lead Team Fire in the 2019 MLL All-Star Game. Ford is a product of the Maryland lacrosse tradition, a graduate of Towson High School and Towson University. He went on to become an attackman in the early seasons of Major League Lacrosse, playing for the Bayhawks, Rattlers, Lizards and Los Angeles Riptide during an eight-year career. He was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2007, a season in which he set the single-season record for assists (a mark that still stands). After an injury ended his career in 2009, Ford moved to front office work, flourishing as the general manager of the Bayhawks from 2010-2016, including overseeing three MLL Championship campaigns. He then moved on to coach the expansion Atlanta Blaze in 2016, later becoming the team’s General Manager in 2017. Currently an assistant coach and GM for the Blaze, Ford also coaches for the Looney’s Lacrosse Club of Baltimore.
“I have been a part of MLL for more than a decade and I know how exciting and special the All-Star Game is,” said Ford. “I am looking forward being back on the field with Paul and Brian, as we share the excitement and love of the league and of the game with this next generation of All-Stars.”
Brian Reese will be joining coaches, Bill Warder, Tom Mariano and team captain, Lyle Thompson to help lead Team Ice in the 2019 MLL All-Star Game. Reese is a native to Maryland, having attended St. Paul’s School before attending the University of Maryland. Reese was a five-time All-Star selection in MLL for the Bayhawks and Philadelphia Barrage and helped lead the Bayhawks to a championship win in 2002. After retiring from playing, Reese was named the General Manager for the Denver Outlaws. During his six seasons with the Outlaws they qualified for the playoffs in each season and lead the league in attendance each year. Reese was also the Head Coach of the Outlaws for four seasons (’07-’11), winning the BRINE MLL Coach of the Year Award in 2009. In 2012 he joined the Chesapeake Bayhawks as both GM and Asst Coach. The Bayhawks went on to win the MLL Championship in 2012. Reese now coaches for the CSE RoughRiders and Glenelg Country School.
“I am thrilled to be coaching in the 2019 MLL All-Star Game,” said Reese. “Playing and coaching in Major League Lacrosse has been such a large part of my development and experience in the sport, and I am excited to be back on the sideline at Navy to coach players like Brendan Kavanagh, Zach Goodrich, Colin Heacock and Max Adler. I also am looking forward to being on the sideline while (John Grant) Junior is on the field, showing up all other MLL alumni.”
The Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game is a tradition of show-stopping plays and nonstop excitement. It will be played July 27th at Navy Marine Corps. Stadium, in Annapolis, MD. Don’t miss your chance to catch the action on ESPN2 or in person. Purchase tickets HERE.
About Major League Lacrosse:
Major League Lacrosse (MLL), based in Boston, is the premier professional field lacrosse league. MLL has led lacrosse’s growth into the mainstream of competitive team sports since 2001. In the spring of 2018, MLL entered into new leadership for the first time in 14 years when it selected Alexander Brown as the Commissioner. Since that time MLL has been on an aggressive path towards sustainably developing and growing the league. The league currently features six teams: the Atlanta Blaze, the Boston Cannons, the Chesapeake Bayhawks, the Dallas Rattlers, the Denver Outlaws, and the New York Lizards. Tickets for the 2019 season and the 2019 All-Star Game are available on majorleaguelacrosse.com
Additional League Information:
Website: majorleaguelacrosse.com
Instagram: instagram.com/majorleaguelax
Twitter: twitter.com/MLL_Lacrosse
