Quirk brought over John Klepacki, who’s in his 20th season as the head coach at Western New England University and served as the Boston Cannons’ defensive coordinator the past six years. Offensive coordinator and mastermind Sean Kirwan, who helped Virginia to a national championship in 2019, coached with Quirk during his first year with the Cannons. A 2012 Tufts grad who set the program’s goals record, Kirwan first dialed in his up-tempo offensive approach as an assistant for the Jumbos in Medford.
Then there’s the personnel. Unlike the inaugural six clubs in 2019 who were assigned their initial rosters for training camp, Quirk and his staff built the Cannons through three drafts (expansion, entry and college), plus a league-high nine waiver additions. Unlike Waterdogs LC, last year’s expansion team, there’s more of a built-in bond.
While former NFL wide receiver Chris Hogan’s name drew the headlines during the waiver period, perhaps more telling was that four of the players Quirk added were on the Boston Cannons’ championship squad from last summer.
“It’s not like we’re going to try to go in there and rebuild a brand new culture,” defenseman Justin Pugal said. “We have something to build off of, rather than going in with a clean slate.”
“The fact that he is the coach of the team gives him an opportunity to build some of the identity how he should choose, but [replicating last year’s roster] is not something we’re going to jam down his throat,” PLL head of player experience Brian Silcott told Inside Lacrosse in February. “It’s his roster, his team. Familiarity is a good thing, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he picks up some guys he’s familiar with.”
There were few questions when it came to the entry draft. It became a running joke on social media to ask, rhetorically, whom Quirk would choose with the first pick. Lyle Thompson was a lock.
“That’s a pretty easy answer,” said Cannons LC goalie Nick Marrocco, referring to Thompson when asked who he was most excited to play with. “He’s the most talented player in the world, but he’s also the toughest player and isn’t afraid to get hit out there and leave everything on the field.”
The Cannons’ current roster composition reflects that identity. It includes Zach Goodrich, the 2020 MLL Defensive Player of the Year who’s widely regarded as the best short-stick defensive midfielder in the game, and Cornell head coach and former Atlas midfielder Connor Buczek, who in 2019 dislocated his shoulder during a game and minutes later scored a 2-point goal.
“From my first conversation with Coach Quirk, he was excited about building a team of the right people,” Buczek said. “Similar to what we’re trying to do at a place like Cornell.”