The Okotoks Raiders are continuing their tradition with Ontario coaches in 2012.
Daryl Haynes is taking over the leadership reins for the Junior A Raiders after three-year head coach and fellow-Ontarian Bruce Codd moved back to his home province.
“When I came out I looked for a spot because I’ve been so involved with lacrosse in Ontario,” said Haynes who moved to Cochrane in mid-August. “So I looked for a spot out here and contacted David (Fehr) the owner and general manager and we went out and had a couple of coffees just to make sure that I carried the right type of traits that they were looking for.
“It just so happens that because of my background I carry the traits they’re looking for to continue to develop the program.”
Haynes’ track record is impressive, with successful coaching stints from Tyke to Junior with experience in both field and box lacrosse. He’s coached five field teams to national championships, two at the U-16 Midget level with Halton Hills in 2006, 2008, two with the U-16 Ontario team in 2009, 2010, and with Team Ontario at the U-19 level in 2011. Haynes has experience at the Junior level with Brampton and more recently with the Junior A box lacrosse Toronto Beaches.
His passion for Canada’s national summer sport runs deep.
“I come from a huge family history, my boys are fifth generation lacrosse players,” Haynes said. “All five generations have played under one organization out of Brampton. I sort of bring that history with alumni of long-term meets mid-term, short-term goals and setting those and sticking to them. There’s more than just the game, there’s this year, there’s three years down the road and just moving forward.”
He’s got some big shoes to fill with the Raiders.
Codd, who was also the technical director for Alberta Lacrosse Association, signed with the NLL’s Toronto Rock in the off-season and has ironically taken on the coaching reins of the Toronto Beaches.
“He’s going to a great job there and we wish him absolutely all the best,” said Fehr. “Our situation with Bruce is that he’s moved back to Ontario and because he’s staying there for the year he’s accepted a coaching job.
“He’s a Raider forever and we’re hopeful that at some point in time that him and Nicole will relocate back to Alberta and we expect that to happen down the road. When they do he’ll be welcomed back in to the Raider fold and we’ll pick up where we left off.”
Fehr said he was impressed with Haynes’ coaching pedigree at every level adding he’s earned his position with hard work throughout the off-season.
“He’s our head coach right now, I probably would consider it interim, but he’s really earned the right to be the head coach,” Fehr said. “He’s been working really hard at taking a look at the players we’ve got right now and seeing how they performed last year.”
Codd, was the Raiders’ bench boss from 2009-11 and led Okotoks to two Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League championships and two berths in the Minto Cup in the last two seasons. Haynes is optimistic he can continue the momentum garnered from three successful seasons of Raiders lacrosse under the guidance of Codd.
“There’s always pressure to continue to try and win,” Haynes said. “Most sort of peg us as (in) a rebuilding year because we’re so very young this year. I would like to look at it more as a retooling year. I’m not using that as an excuse. The expectations that I’ve placed on our players is that I expect to continue to win.”
To get accustomed to the unfamiliar Raiders’ roster, Haynes has spent months getting to know his players through winter sessions, individual meetings, through watching game film of the 2011 Okotoks squad and via conversations with Codd on the inner workings of the team.
“From what I’ve seen with this club, I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of values to instill. It’s probably going to be pushing exactly what Bruce was doing for his years here,” Haynes said.
“I’m extremely impressed with the character of the core players. The work ethic at this point is very, very strong.”
The Raiders’ roster combined with Haynes’ points of emphasis will lead to an Okotoks team with a heavy dose of speed and tenacity.
“Because we’re small we’re very quick so we’re going to have to play that quick transition high-paced, hopefully exciting game. I don’t want my teams to get outworked, win or lose,” Haynes said.
The Raiders ramp up their exhibition schedule for the 2012 season with the Alberta Jr. A Lacrosse pre-season tournament April 21 in Red Deer. Okotoks’ 2012 regular season begins on May 12. For more information on the Okotoks Raiders go to raiderslacrosse.com
