NLL Colorado Mammoth

Assistants join Mammoth coaching staff

October 24, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Mammoth on Monday named the two assistant coaches that will serve behind the bench with head coach Gary Gait.

Offensive coordinator Russ Heard and defensive coordinator Dan Pratt will join Gait in directing the Mammoth during the upcoming season. All three men will make their National Lacrosse League coaching debuts when the Mammoth opens against the Philadelphia Wings on Dec. 30 at Pepsi Center.

Heard joins the Mammoth after four seasons as head coach of the Burnaby (British Columbia) Lakers of the Western Lacrosse Association. He played for 15 seasons in the WLA and three seasons in the NLL for the Ontario Raiders and Toronto Rock, winning Champion's Cup titles with the Rock in 1999 and 2000. After retiring as a player he served as a scout for the Rock from 2001-2003.

Heard, a purchaser for a large floor covering wholesaler, lives in Burnaby with his wife, Debbie, and their 4-year-old son, Ryan.

In joining the Mammoth coaching staff Pratt is reunited with Gait after the two were teammates in both college and the pros. A Syracuse University defenseman from 1984-1987 Pratt played in four NCAA Final Fours, two national championship games and was an All-American his senior year. He played three professional seasons with the Detroit Turbos from 1990-1992, teaming with Gait to win the league championship in 1991.

A Colorado resident since 1992, Pratt coaches and teaches at many of the state's youth lacrosse camps. He is a sales representative for the National Distributing Company and lives in Longmont with his children Trevor, Carson and Lyndsie.

The Mammoth also named Bill Hall assistant general manager, Ward Sanderson special assistant to the head coach and Greg Martinez video coach.

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