Lou Corsetti, USA Lacrosse’s director for the Southeast Region and a longtime lacrosse coach in Georgia, has been named as the recipient of APIVEO’s 2021 Brian Snitker Award as the organization’s youth coach of the year.
Based in Georgia, APIVEO (Always Play for Each Other) is an organization seeking to empower youth coaches by giving them simple, positive, and age-appropriate life and leadership lessons to share with their teams.
The Brian Snitker Award, named in honor of the Atlanta Braves manager and sponsored by Akins Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, is awarded annually to a youth coach who not only demonstrates strong character and great leadership, but is also dedicated to the core mission of APIVEO, which is to teach kids about leadership and character.
“APIVEO selects a youth coach who invests time, knowledge, and experience into their players and into the community, with the ultimate goal of equipping youth to be impactful leaders throughout their lives, and nobody embodies that better than Lou,” said Steve Kirr, director of regional development at USA Lacrosse. “This is such a well-deserved honor for our friend and colleague.”
Corsetti’s roots as a youth lacrosse leader in Georgia date back nearly three decades. He was instrumental in helping to launch lacrosse in Georgia in 1992, starting with 22 kids at Murphy Chandler Park. With the help of many coaches and his wife, Mary Jo, he then ran Atlanta Youth Lacrosse for 27 years. AYL was the springboard for high school lacrosse getting started in 1996 and later, becoming a sanctioned sport in 2003 by the GHSA.
Through the years, Corsetti has helped grow programs throughout Georgia, including in Newnan, Peachtree City, Macon, Cobb County, Alpharetta, Decatur, Dekalb, Dalton, and Gwinnett County. In recognition of his tireless efforts, he was inducted into the Georgia Foundation Hall of Fame in 2011.
Originally an active volunteer with USA Lacrosse, Corsetti joined the organization full-time in 2015 after retiring from his executive position with SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey.
As the Brian Snitker Award winner, Corsetti will receive $5,000 from Akins Ford to donate to the children’s charity of his choice. He has decided to donate the money to The Will To Live Foundation, which is dedicated to raising the awareness of teen suicide and mental illness in our communities.
“I was shocked by this recognition but honored to receive this tremendous award,” Corsetti said. “Brad Jubin and Mike Hobbs tirelessly run APIVEO and do a terrific job of honoring kids who are leaders in the community. I have been proud to work with them the last few years and feel truly blessed by this award.”
