NLL Insider

Toronto Rock head coach Jamie Batley (Photo: Dave Sanders)

In the wake of yesterday’s resignation of Mike Kloepfer in Toronto, many are now wondering who the Rock have on their short-list of possible replacements for their general manager role.

2009 Rock head coach, Jamie Batley, is hopeful it’ll be him.

“I think that’s a natural progression for me,” Batley told The Peterborough Examiner after news broke of Kloepfer stepping down yesterday. “I’ve done it in Chicago for two-and- a-half years. It looked like we were coming into success until the team folded. Having done that job in Peterborough the last six years now I’ve proved I can do that.”

Batley of course refers to his two years spent serving as the now defunct Chicago Shamrox’s general manager and head coach simultaneously, and his multiple years spent successfully filling both roles with the MSL’s Peterborough Lakers, a gig he still currently holds heading into the summer season.

It was after the Rock jumped out of the gate with a disappointing 1-2 record this year that the team axed former head coach Glenn Clark and his staff and immediately hired Batley, along with his usual coaching staff which includes Bob Keast, Jim Milligan, Joe Sullivan and Barry Larock.

Although the team showed signs of improvement throughout this past season, the Rock finished up with a 6-10 record, which had them falling short of the NLL post-season for the second straight season.

“I’d like to think we did a fairly decent job with what we had this year in Toronto,” Batley told The Examiner in regards to his staff’s 13-game stint with the team. “I think the coaching staff I have is, probably, second to none in lacrosse right now. I really think together we make a great group of five guys and we work really well together. I’d like to think no matter who comes in there as GM, whether it’s myself or someone else, they’ll have a look and see we were somewhat successful based on the guys we had or the injuries.”

Batley told the paper that he had not been consulted or advised of Kloepfer’s resignation and only found out about it yesterday morning after receiving a call from the Rock’s now former Director of Lacrosse Operations.

Although team President Brad Watters has been quoted as saying the franchise will be fully analyzed from top-to-bottom with potentially more changes coming, Batley told The Examiner, “ I don’t know where that leaves me or the rest of the guys. We’re still the coaches.”

Via press release yesterday, the Rock explained that they would wait until the completion of this year’s post-season until they begin their interview and selection process for Kloepfer’s previously held position, leaving some wondering if a current NLL GM or coach, presently in this year’s playoffs, might be on their wish-list.

“Over the next six weeks we will evaluate the coaching staff and current roles within our lacrosse operations in order for us to return to a leadership position in the league,” Watters said in yesterday’s release.

Plus the links

• Brett Bucktooth gets healthy just in time for another run: The Buffalo News
• Boston’s Sean Morris taking things to another level: Wicked Local
• SU legends Gary Gait and Casey Powell go head-to-head at MSG this weekend: Syracuse University
• Cody Jamieson 100% committed to SU during entire ordeal: Syracuse.com
• Players and coaches react to Jamieson’s first game with the Orange: Citrus TV via IL.com
• Video interviews with John Tavares, Darris Kilgour and Mike Accursi: WGRZ.com
• The Jeff Zywicki, aka The Nibbler, blog: San Jose Stealth
• Matt King or Pat Campbell? The Necks are fine with going either way: CP via Metro News
• Playoff perspective from the tarpit: Colorado Mammoth
• Dan Marohl Q&A: Minnesota Swarm
• Sr. B AP Rock ready to go: News Durham Region
• New St. Kitts A’s coach, Eric Vinc, surrounded by a lot of good people: The Standard
• More on Ontario keep imports Adam Hickey and Greg Krstic in Victoria: BCJALL
• Surprise addition, John Flatters, brings more than just grit to this year’s Sr. T-Men: Canada.com

Rate This Story:

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...