NLL Insider

NLL Insider has learned from various sources that the Edmonton Rush have indeed offered current Colorado Mammoth Assistant Coach Bob Hamley both the team’s Head Coaching and GM positions.

The Rush fired former Head Coach and GM Paul Day yesterday afternoon after the team came out of the blocks with a poor 0-5 start, their most recent loss, an effortless performance against the Portland Lumberjax that saw them bounced 14-8.

Sources indicate that Hamley is the team’s absolute first choice for the dual role and that former Calgary Roughnecks’ Head Coach and current NLL Insider contributor Chris Hall has yet to be contacted by Edmonton Rush President Duane Vienneau as a possible replacement for Day. Hall was thought by many in the industry to be the club’s most obvious first choice after the firing of Day was announced.

It is believed that conditions are being worked out with Hamley and his current club, the Mammoth, before anything is finalized or made public. The Rush will in all likelihood have to offer the Mammoth something, whether that is a player, future draft pick or cash, in order to land the former Arizona Sting head coach.

Hall was thought by many to be the most likely choice for the position due to his previous coaching experience in the province as well as his strong western lacrosse background coaching in the WLA with the Victoria Shamrocks. Hall also has experience coaching a number of the current Rush players either previously with the Shamrocks or Roughnecks.

It is still unclear if a deal between Hamley and the Rush will be made by this weekend, but if not, it is expected that former Rush players, Jamey Bowen and Chris Stachniak, will serve as interim coaches for the team’s game against the San Jose Stealth this weekend and potentially beyond.

It is also thought that either one or both former players will also serve in some capacity on the new coaching staff once Hamley arrives.

Vienneau told media earlier this afternoon that he is hoping to make an announcement on their coaching situation sometime within the next 24 hours.

“I was hoping to have a decision made today, but we’re just not quite there yet,” said Vienneau, “If it isn’t going to work out, then we’ll have to go to Plan B and see what staff we’ll have on the bench this weekend.”

The likely hiring of Hamley also sets up an interesting situation beyond the 2008 season. Hamley, the former Sting bench boss and GM, will apparently need to go back to the Sting franchise if the club, who closed up shop just before the start of the season, is sold to a new buyer either in Arizona or elsewhere.

It is still very much unknown if the Sting franchise is indeed close to being sold or what exactly will happen to former players and coaches, who make the sale of the Sting a lot more appealing to potential buyers.

Hamley’s current situation with both the Mammoth and Sting is also another reason why Hall was thought by many to be the most logical long term solution for the Rush’s current coaching situation.

Stay tuned to NLL Insider for more on this developing story.

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