Saskatchewan Rush co-head coach Jimmy Quinlan has won the National Lacrosse League’s Les Bartley Award, which is presented annually to the Coach of the Year.
In addition, Rush general manager Derek Keenan has won the National Lacrosse League’s GM of the Year award.
The recognition humbled the 43-year-old Quinlan.
“I think it's a credit to our players and the work they put in all season, every week. I'm just the guy whose name gets brought forward; it's something that I'm proud of, but the guys in the room and the people I'm surrounded with deserve all the credit.”
Quinlan led the Rush to a regular-season record of 13-5, five more wins than the previous year, bringing Saskatchewan back to the playoffs for the first time in six years.
The Rush saw significant improvements in multiple categories this season, but mostly in goals against, where the team average dropped by almost two goals per game. At the same time, the offensive output remained relatively similar to the previous season.
Quinlan is the second Saskatchewan Rush to win Coach of the Year, following Derek Keenan, who took home the honours in 2018.
Speaking of Keenan, this is the fourth time in his career that he has been named the top GM in the league. The nine-time league champion won the GM award in 2014, 2010 and 2006 with Edmonton and Portland, while being named a finalist in 2017 and 2018 with Saskatchewan. Keenan acknowledges the support from the franchise that he has had in assembling the team.
“It’s a credit to the whole group, from top to bottom. The ownership support that I get here, the fact they trusted me with the plan that I've had the last couple years, I appreciate all that. Of course, it comes down to the players, and they've done their job.”
In the offseason, Keenan made the biggest splash, signing free agent Austin Shanks, who was tied for the team lead in goals with 35, to a two-year deal. He then acquired 43-point scorer Brock Haley in a trade with the Vancouver Warriors, saw four of his draft picks make their rookie debuts this season, all while extending Matt Hossack and Frank Scigliano to contract extensions in-season.
Saskatchewan is back on the Field Friday night for game one of the NLL Finals in Buffalo. The best-of-three series returns to Saskatoon on Sunday. Faceoff is at 6 p.m.
