Roughnecks Dismiss Head Coach
February 24, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Chris Hall, the only head coach the Calgary Roughnecks have had since the club entered the National Lacrosse League in 2001, has been released.
He was let go following last night's 9-12 home loss to the Toronto Rock.
It was the Riggers (4-4) third defeat in a row, and also the third time in five outings the squad has lost at the Saddledome.
"We have the best and most loyal fans in the league," said Brad Banister, the club's President and principal owner, "and thanks to those fans we're drawing the biggest crowds we've ever had. But if we're to keep them coming back, we have to do better than we've done of late.
"Our performance against Toronto was awful. The Rock was all over us and we simply did not respond in a way a professional sports team should. It's a trait I've seen develop as the season progresses. The team is just not motivated."
Banister added, "This club is under achieving and if we are to make the playoffs - and, if this club is to survive, we have no choice but to make the playoffs - we must start winning again, and particularly on home turf."
Lacrosse legend, Kevin Alexander, the Roughnecks coach in charge of offence, resigned after hearing of Hall's dismissal. Alexander joined the club last summer.
While the team flew to Toronto for Saturday's re-match at the Air Canada Centre, Hall and Alexander stayed behind in Calgary. Both are due to return to their hometown of Victoria today.
Hall, 56, was the Riggers head coach when they won the NLL's Champion's Cup in 2004 and the West Division championship in 2005. He was a coach at the NLL All-Stars games from 2004-2006.
"Chris is a class guy and an outstanding coach," said Banister. "He was absolutely huge for us in our early years, and I'm quite happy to admit that he saved us back when we were going through some desperate times.
"But that was then and this is now, and everyone connected with the club - owners, players, staff , fans, etcetera - knows changes have to be made."
Banister continued, "You can blame the players, you can blame the trades we did or didn't make, you can even say we were unlucky to come up against a string of hot goalies. But at the end of the day, the name of the game is winning - and we aren't winning.
"I can't say enough good things about Chris as a coach and a person, including the fact he's one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. He's absolutely awesome. But in professional sports you have to win, and when you don't win someone has to pay the price. It's an ugly, unfortunate and inevitable part of the game."
Hall's departure, leaves Kaleb Toth as the only person in the organization who remains from the people who were on the bench when the Roughnecks played its first ever game in Montreal on November 22, 2001.
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 24, 2007
- Mammoth improves to 9-1 with victory over LumberJax - Colorado Mammoth
- Rock lose to Roughnecks, 17-13 - Toronto Rock
- Sting fall short in Rochester - Arizona Sting
- Toronto beaten in Toronto - Calgary Roughnecks
- New York Titans Suffer 12-11 Defeat Against the San Jose Stealth - Orlando Titans
- Wings Lose 13-12 Heartbreaker To Buffalo - Philadelphia Wings
- Rochester hosts Arizona - Rochester Knighthawks
- Roughnecks Dismiss Head Coach - Calgary Roughnecks
- Edmonton Rush defeat division rivals in overtime - Edmonton Rush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
