The Claremont Cougars Coaches' & Captains' Corner:

AJ Stevens named Associate Head Coach at Claremont:

Claremont Colleges Head Lacrosse Pete Ginnegar has announced that AJ Stevens has been named the Associate Head Coach for Claremont Lacrosse. Stevens has been slated to assume the head coaching duties at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

"The hiring of AJ is just another step in the evolution of our program as we strive for national prominence in the MCLA.", stated Head Coach, Pete Ginnegar. "We are thrilled to have AJ come on board at this time. We know that he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the "Cougs".

Coach Stevens is the former head coach at the University of Illinois. He led the Illini to a 23-13 record and two consecutive Top 25 rankings. Illinois reached the Great Rivers Lacrosse Championship Game every year under Stevens. Stevens was named the GRLC Coach of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007 Illinois led the nation with five Academic All-Americans. He was a member the MLL Chicago Machine coaching staff. Stevens has also served as the director of lacrosse operations and assistant coach for the Machine.

Stevens came to Champaign from Dartmouth College, where he was an assistant coach. During his tenure, Dartmouth began the transition from also-ran to a national contender in Division I college lacrosse.

Prior to joining the Big Green, Stevens was the head coach at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. He led the Hawks to a 7-7 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. He was the head coach of the West team in the 2001 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Senior All-Star Game. Stevens also served as head coach at Indiana University in 1997 leading the Hoosiers to a 13-3 record.

Stevens played three years of varsity lacrosse for the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and was team captain as a senior. He also played for the Barnstable Blitz of the Cape Cod Lacrosse League led by Hall of Fame coach Jim Turnbull. Stevens has a career record as a head coach of 44-23 (4 years)

Official Collegelax.us Press Release