West Chester graduate to coach San Francisco in MLL

Burlingame (CA) – The San Francisco Dragons of Major League Lacrosse announced today that Tom Slate has been hired as the team’s Head Coach for the 2008 season. Slate has served as assistant coach for the Philadelphia Barrage since 2005 and helped lead the Barrage to two consecutive MLL Championships (2006 and 2007). In addition to his duties with the Barrage, he is also the Head Coach at Downingtown East High School where he has been since 2004. His 2007 team won the Pennsylvania State Championship and in doing so he became the first person to win a State Title as both a player (Springfield HS '92) and coach in Pennsylvania history. Prior to coaching at Downingtown East he served as Assistant Coach at Radnor HS (PA) helping to take Radnor to the State semis and finals in consecutive years.

Slate graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Health and Physical Education with an emphasis in fitness. He was selected as a 1st team All American selection at Essex Community College (MD) and as a 1st team High School All American for Springfield HS (PA) which he captained to the State Championship. He played for seven years with the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League where he helped the team win two World Championships in 1998 and 2001. He then played for the MLL’s Baltimore Bayhawks for one season. Additionally, he was selected to represent the USA at the Heritage Cup.

Currently he is the Owner of Lacrosse Evolution (http://www.lacrosseevolution.com/) in Downingtown, Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife Stacy and daughter Rylee and son Lucas.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a person of Tom's background and experience joining our organization” commented Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Locker. “Tom brings a great deal of experience and enthusiasm, and we could not be happier having him as our Head Coach” Locker continued.

"I'm privileged and excited to be selected as Head Coach of the San Francisco Dragons, and am eager to get started." commented Slate. "I have set goals in my mind for the team, and those goals are high. We have a lot of work to do and I'm excited to get the Dragons into the elite teams in Major League Lacrosse" continued Slate.