NLL Toronto Rock elevate Sawyer to head coach job

 OAKVILLE, Ontario _ Matt Sawyer has been promoted from assistant to head coach of the Toronto Rock and Bruce Codd has been hired away from the Calgary Roughnecks to run the defence.

Blaine Manning remains in charge of the offense in coaching staff announcements made by owner-GM Jamie Dawick on Tuesday afternoon.

Sawyer, 41, was a Rock assistant before and after one previous NLL head coaching stint with a Boston franchise that folded in 2011.

“It’s a perfect fit,” Sawyer says of his enhanced Rock role. “I feel it’s the top job in lacrosse. I couldn’t be happier. I’m aware of the work to be done and the expectations of the job and am eager to get started.”

Sawyer takes over from John Lovell, who was NLL coach of the year in 2015 when the Rock finished the regular season first overall at 14-4 and made it to the championship round. But Lovell was fired by Dawick after a 5-13 flop in 2016 and the first playoff miss since 2009, which was unacceptable for a franchise with six championship banners from its first 14 years but none since 2011.

“I explored all my options and Matt is the best available coach, in my opinion,” says Dawick. “I like his attention to detail.

“I like everything Matt is about. He’s been a winning coach at all levels and has the respect of his players. They work hard for him. I truly believe this is his opportunity. I believe he’ll do a good job. It’s his time. He’s earned it. He deserves it and he’s going to get his shot.”

Sawyer and Codd live in Orangeville, Ont. Codd played on junior teams coached there by Sawyer and joined him on the Northmen coaching staff to win another Canadian championship. Calgary released Codd, a former NLL defenceman, from his contract so he can coach closer to home.

“It was a very classy move by their organization,” says Dawick.

“I feel we have a really strong staff,” says Sawyer. “We’ll be leaning on each other.’’

The retirement last month of lefty forward Josh Sanderson, who has been named assistant general manager, and the uncertain status of unrestricted free agents Colin Doyle and Patrick Merrill create roster uncertainty. Doyle, 38, had neck surgery after a fall at home last March, missing most of the second half of the season. Patrick Merrill, 37, is recovering from major knee surgery.

“Last year was just a disaster,” says Dawick. “We didn’t start well and then we ran into injuries.

“But, if Buffalo is the best it the east, I don’t feel we’re that far off. We need to make a couple of moves, bring in a couple of players. There’s no reason we can’t be competitive in the East.”

“We were a five-win team last year so we need to make improvements in all areas,” says Sawyer. “There’s a real good base, a real good core.

“I’m confident we can make some improvements. We’ll tell Jamie and Josh, ‘You guys get us the players and we’ll coach them.’ I don’t think we’re as far off as most people think.”

Toronto has the No. 2 pick Sept. 26 in the entry draft, which will again be held at the Dawick-owned Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in this city just west of Toronto’s NLL home floor at the Air Canada Centre.

“That pick is very important whether I draft a player or make a deal,” says Dawick. “If I can move the pick and pick up a couple of players, I’ll explore it. We’ll see what plays out.”

Veteran lefty forward Stephane Leblanc removed himself from UFA status by signing a four-year deal with Dawick on Monday.

The Nick Rose-Brandon Miller goaltending tandem is one of the best last lines of defence in the NLL. Miller underwent hip surgery Monday and says he expects to be ready to start the 2017 season in January.

Rose tended goal for the 2008 MInto Cup-winning Northmen when Sawyer was head coach and Codd was an assistant.

“It’s good for us,” he said of Sawyer getting the nod as head coach. “He’s been in the mix for a long time in Toronto. All the boys are familiar with him. He knows what to expect from guys and how to push guys. Matt is very good at coaching young, athletic players so it’s a good fit for us.”