Matt Sawyer Moves To The Bench As Assistant Coach

Veteran Coach Will Be On The Bench Sunday

Oakville, ON – The Toronto Rock didn’t have to look too far for a qualified assistant coach to fill out their bench. Matt Sawyer has been with the Rock as an assistant coach since 2012 but will now move from an “eye in the sky” role to standing alongside head coach John Lovell and assistant coach Blaine Manning on the Rock bench beginning this Sunday.

“Matt and I have a great relationship and have coached together at various levels over the years,” said Lovell who even coached Sawyer as a player during his Junior A days. “He has a very high lacrosse IQ and has some good ideas when it comes to fine tuning some of the details we need to look after to get better.”

Sawyer last served on the bench with the Rock during the 2005 to 2006 seasons with the Rock, winning a championship in 2005. He returned to the Rock staff when current owner Jamie Dawick purchased the team prior to the 2010 season.

When a head coaching position opened up with the Boston Blazers, Sawyer took the job for the 2011 season, as the Blazers finished with an 8-8 record and a playoff berth. The Blazers ceased operations following that season and Sawyer returned to work with the Rock.

The 41-year old from Orangeville, Ontario has also had NLL stops in Ottawa and Montreal and has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success at the Junior A level, guiding the Orangeville Northmen to back-to-back Minto Cup titles in 2008 and 2009 and another in 2012. Sawyer coached more than a half-dozen current Rock players while they were juniors in Orangeville.

“I’m excited about the opportunity and I’m confident we are going to get better,” said Sawyer. “I’m very familiar with our personnel and this team still has a lot in the tank. There is still a lot of lacrosse to be played.”

Prior to this season, Sawyer also added the title of assistant GM with the Rock.
The Rock will look to get their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Uncasville, CT to face the New England Black Wolves. Fans can watch the game live at 3 p.m. on Rogers TV Toronto, Peel, Durham, York and Keswick along with TVCogeco Halton and FOX Sports GO

Toronto Rock Season Tickets, the Upper Bowl Season Pass, Flex Packs, Single Game Tickets and Group Tickets are also on sale now. For more information about Toronto Rock tickets, please contact our account executives at 416-596-3075 or visit www.torontorock.com.