Vancouver Announces Resignation of Head Coach
Published on July 20, 2004 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Vancouver Ravens News Release
VANCOUVER (TUESDAY JULY 20, 2004) - Paul Dal Monte of Vancouver, the first and only Head Coach & Director of Lacrosse Operations in the three-year history of the Vancouver Ravens Lacrosse Club, is resigning his operational duties with the club.
Dal Monte, who has a career record of 24 wins and 24 losses (not including two playoff losses) in his three seasons behind the bench and as the senior lacrosse operations executive with the Ravens, will remain with the club as a consultant.
"Paul Dal Monte has been an instrumental force in shaping this franchise from the ground floor up and his contributions have been significant, both on and off the floor," said Tom Mayenknecht, a Governor and Managing Partner of the Ravens, the NLL franchise which is now under a new ownership structure led by Raj Kalra, the principal of Partners Group 1, a Marietta, Georgia-based corporation. "He is responsible for having built the infrastructure of players we have going into our fourth year. We know we have some work to do to compete to win an NLL championship, but thanks to Paul, we believe we're not too far away. We're certainly better than the disappointing record we had last season."
Under Dal Monte, the Ravens opened their expansion history with an impressive 10-6 record, making the playoffs in their first season by winning their final seven straight games. In 2002-2003, the Ravens finished at 9-7 and made the playoffs again before posting a disappointing 5-11 record in 2003-2004. Most impressive, according to Mayenknecht, is Dal Monte's legacy as Director of Lacrosse Operations of major acquisitions such as Chris Gill of Maple Ridge, B.C., Dan Stroup of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Curt Malawsky of Maple Ridge, Matt Dwane of Richmond, B.C. and Andy Ogilvie of Surrey, B.C. and other moves which have led to Vancouver holding three of the top 11 draft picks in this year's NLL Entry Draft and two first-rounders in both 2005 and 2006.
The move comes with Dal Monte requiring additional focus on his full-time responsibilities as Director of Marketing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, owned and operated by Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment.
"I've been so close to the franchise from the outset that it will be difficult not to be able to retain the responsibilities I've been honoured to hold over the past three years, but I simply will not be able to do the franchise justice given my expanded responsibilities at Orca Bay and the Canucks," said Dal Monte. "I'll certainly be pleased to provide whatever support I can as a consultant to ownership, but the operations of the lacrosse side of the business require a significant focus and I cannot make that commitment at this time."
Dal Monte noted that he has taken on additional responsibilities in the marketing department of the Canucks given the departure of Orca Bay Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Sales John Rizzardini in 2003 and Chief Operating Officer Dave Cobb this month.
"It's important to me that I'm able to meet the responsibilities and expectations of my increased role at Orca Bay and that the Ravens have the attention they need without compromises on either side," explained Dal Monte. "I also need to spend more time with my family and less time traveling and this will help me achieve the balance I'm looking for."
Mayenknecht said the franchise will make restructuring announcements as soon as possible, perhaps even this week, in order to have the Ravens properly prepared for the NLL entry draft draft .
"Paul played a big part in working on the 360-degree organizational review we conducted in May and June and we're prepared to make some moves pretty quickly because of his support during the process," said Mayenknecht.
Kalra and Mayenknecht are committed to returning to the levels achieved in the Ravens dramatic debut season, in which an average of 10,211 fans attended General Motors Place.
"We'll strive first to regain that level of support and then work from there over the next three to five years," Mayenknecht said. "Raj is keen on making sure we have the resources we need to first stabilize the franchise after our tough recovery process of the past 18 months and then build our capacity going forward."
National Lacrosse League Stories from July 20, 2004
- Mammoth Assistant Coach Christianson resigns - Colorado Mammoth
- Vancouver Announces Resignation of Head Coach - Vancouver Ravens
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