NLL Insider

The NLL Edmonton Rush have just announced that they have relieved General Manager and Head Coach Paul Day, as well as assistant coaches A. J. Jomha and Jim Milligan of their duties effective immediately. It is expected that replacement hires will be announced this week.

The Edmonton Rush are the only winless team in the league with a 0-5 record and league-low 49 goals scored.

“This is an unfortunate situation considering the amount of time and effort that Paul, A.J. and Jim put into the Rush since the team’s inception prior to the start of the 2006 National Lacrosse League season,” Edmonton President Duane Vienneau told the NLL.com.

“But the expectations for the team were not being realized this season and a significant change was necessary. There is a lot of talent on this team; however, the record does not reflect where we should be in the standings. We needed to make a move while there is still time to make a concerted effort to reach the NLL playoffs for the first time in our history.”

The Rush are the only winless team in the league, yet they are only 1.5 games behind the Western Division’s third-place team. Many thought there may be a change in Edmonton, and now the question becomes who will replace Day and his coaching staff.

Stay tuned to NLLinsider.com for more on this ongoing story.

For Day’s comments,

Paul Day was the NLL’s Coach of the Year in 2004. He joined the Rush prior to the start of the 2006 season and made a number of moves that pre-season looked to be positive for the franchise who had gone from 1-15 in their inaugural year to 6-10 in 2007.

Jomha is heavily involved with lacrosse in Edmonton and is well known for his work with the Minors Junior A program while Milligan, who was part of Day’s coaching staff in Rochester, is also a coach with the Mann Cup champion Peterborough Lakers.

“We enjoyed our time in Edmonton and we are disappointed because we did not get to where this team can be and it may take some more time,” said Paul Day, “We had prepared this team very well and we are comfortable with the job we did.. obviously not happy to be 0-5.”

Many thought the Rush had bolstered their line-up in 2008, with additions that included Mike Accursi and Ben Prepchuck.

“With eight new faces, the chemistry will take time and we had a limited training camp,” added Day, “Ownership decided to cut back this year and we needed more than two weeks of camp to come together.”

“The entire Rush organization would like to thank Paul, A.J., and Jim for their work. This was not an easy decision to make considering their devotion to the Rush but ultimately the coaching staff is largely responsible for a team’s success or failure,” said Vienneau in his interview with the NLL.com.

“We are hopeful that under new direction we can turn things around and live up to the expectations and hopes of our great fans… We are determined to win games and to make the playoffs.”

“I wish the Rush all the best in the future,” added Day.

Stay tuned to NLLinsider.com for more on this ongoing story.

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