BR Coaches

Burning River Directors and Coaching Staff

Click For A Link To Our Page - "Who We Are".

At Burning River our coaches are our greatest asset. It is their passionate, knowledge and focus on putting our players first that has allowed us to grow from 3 coaches and 11 players to be become Ohio’s leader in lacrosse training and one of the top lacrosse clubs in the nation.  It is our coaches knowledge, ability to simply explain the fundamentals, belief in high reps with immediate feedback, and hands on instruction that has allowed us to create our unique offerings that provide the best instruction and results possible.

Our coaches are some of the area’s top college coaches, high school coaches, college players (BR Alumni) and high school players (BR players).  Our coaches are focused on the goal of improving our player’s individual / fundamental stick skills, positional skill set (Attack, Midfield, Defense and Goaltending), and understanding of team concepts (Transition and Set Piece Offense and Defense) play.  They do this by spending the vast majority of our coaching time teaching techniques and fundamentals in individual or small group sessions.

To succeed as a BR coach you need to

  • Be focus on doing what is best for our players and their families
  • Be motivated to help others achieve their goals
  • Be driven to help young men and women became leaders of character who make a positive impact on society
  • Be dedicated to providing training that offers high reps, immediate feedback, and hands on instruction
  • Have high expectations for yourself and those around you
  • Have a constant desire to learn and improve your knowledge base

Burning River Lacrosse is always looking for passionate, dedicated and qualified individuals to help us achieve our mission.  If you have a passion for helping develop young men and women lacrosse players of character who make a positive impact on society we encourage you to apply to become part of our team.

Application Procedures
To apply for our team please send a Cover Letter, Resume and References (3) to info@brlax.net.  In the cover letter tell us why you want to work with BR and what you will bring to our team to improve our offerings and reputation.

 

Burning River Directors

Woody

Woody Calleri - Founder & CEO of Burning River Lacrosse

Coach Calleri oversees all aspects of BR operations, is in charge of player development and provides college recruitment & counseling for players and parents.  (Coaching Experience and Parent Testimonials)

  • High School Players - (2014 to 2022)
    • 21 Ohio Position Player Of The Year, 173 All Ohio
    • 51 All Americans, 26 Academic All Americans
    • 13 N. Ohio POY, 45 N.Ohio Position POY
    • 371 All Region
    • 200+ players at 100+ college programs.
  • College / Pro Players - (2015 to 2022)
    • 2 MLL Champion, 4 Pro Players
    • 8 National Champions / 8 National Runner Up
    • 1 USILA POY, 4 USILA AA, 2 North / South Game
    • 8 Conference POW, 45 All Conference, 66 Conference Champions
    • 90 Players Participating In The NCAA Tournament
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P. J. Kavanagh - Assoc. Director Of Player Dev / Head Coach

Coach Kavanagh has coached lacrosse for almost 30 years spanning youth, high school, college and the professional ranks. Coach Kavanagh grew up in Syracuse, NY where he played goalie at Henninger HS before matriculating at Colgate University where he played his first three years at goalie and his senior season at LSM.

  • 2022-Present: Offensive Coordinator, Hoover HS
  • 2015-2022: Head Coach, The College of Wooster
  • 2013-2015: Offensive Coordinator, Hoover HS
  • 2011-2013: Head Coach, University of Mount Union
  • 2011-2013: Defensive Coordinator, Ohio Machine MLL
  • 2007-2011: Head Coach, Plattsburgh State University
  • 2004-2006: Defensive Coordinator, Plattsburgh State University
  • 2001: Assistant Coach, Bridgeport Barrage MLL

Burning River Coaches

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Chris Idone - Coach

  • 2016 - Current: Head Coach, Kent Roosevelt High School
    • Ohio North East Region Coach of the Year (2016)
  • 2014 - 2015: Assistant Coach, Kent Roosevelt High School
  • 2012 - 2013: Assistant Coach, University of Mount Union
  • 2004 - 2007: Played at Kent Roosevelt High School
    • 2007: All Region, "Best hands in the SLA"

 

B.J. Jenkins - Coach

  • 2012 - 2022: Head Coach, Hiram College
  • 1998 - 2012: Head Coach, Shenandoah University
  • 1994 - 1998: Assistant Coach, Lehigh University
  • 1991 - 2094: Assistant Coach, Lafayette University
  • Played for Team USA Master's Division
  • Played at Cortland State

 

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Danny Clem - Coach

  • 2011 - Present: Head Coach, Archbishop Hoban High School
    • Ohio Division II Coach of the Year (2018)
    • Region 6 Coach of the Year (2018, 2019)
    • North Coast League Coach of the Year (2016. 2018)
  • 2015 - Present: Plays with Cleveland Demons Men's Box Team
  • 2001 - 2005: Played at Archbishop Hoban High School

 

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Whit Stopak - Coach

  • 2018 - 2020: Played at Hofstra University
    • Starting Attackmen - 19 Goals 5 Assists
  • 2015 - 2018: Played at Hoover High School
    • US Lacrosse All-American (2017, 2018)
    • 1st Team All-State (2018)
    • 2nd Team All-State (2017)
    • 1st Team All-Region (2016, 2017, 2018)
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Eric Werner - Coach

  • 2020 - Present: Director of Brunswick Lacrosse
  • 2020 - Present: Board Member, Northern Ohio Lacrosse League (NOLL)
  • 2021 - Present: Assistant coach, Man-Up Lacrosse League
  • 2015 - Present: Youth coach, Brunswick Youth Lacrosse 
  • 2016 - 2019: Assistant Coach, Brunswick HS Varsity
  • 2017 - 2019: Head Coach, Brunswick HS Junior Varsity

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Anthony Ameo - Coach / FO

  • 2019 - 2021: Played at The Ohio State University
  • 2015 - 2018: Played at St. Ignatius 
    • US Lacrosse All-American (2017, 2018)
    • 1st Team All-State (2017, 2018)
    • 1st Team All-MCLA (2016, 2017, 2018)
    • Specialist of the Year (2017, 2018)
    • 1st Team All-Region (2016, 2017, 2018)

 

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Brooks Crowley - Coach / Defense

  • 2021 - Present: Plays at Denison University

    • 1st Team All NCAC Defense
    • USILA All American
  • 2017 - 2020: Played at University School
    • 2nd Team All-Region (2019)
    • Honorable Mention All-Region (2018)

 

 

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Ryan Nowell - Coach

  • 2020 - Present: Assistant Coach, Lake Erie College
  • 2019 - 2020: Head Coach, Huntingdon College
  • 2017 - 2019 Assistant Coach, Moravian College
  • 2016 - 2017: Assistant Coach, Marywood University
  • 2011 - 2015: Played at Marywood University
    • All American, All CSAC (3 years)

 

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Kyle Brown - Coach (MS and Youth)

  • 2019 - Present: Head Coach, Hudson Youth Lacrosse Coach
  • 2013 - 2018: Played at Kent State University
  • 2009 - 2012: Played at Stow-Muroe Falls High School

 

 

 

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Ben Starkey - Coach / Midfield

  • 2020 - Present: Plays at, Robert Morris University
  • 2016 - 2019: Played at Padua Francisan
    • 389 Career Points - 2nd All Time in Ohio 
    • US Lacrosse All-American (2019)
    • 1st Team All-State (2018, 2019)
    • 2nd Team All-State (2017)
    • 1st Team All-Region (2017, 2018, 2019)
    • 1st Team All Conference (2017, 2018, 2019)
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Sammy Zickel - Coach / Goalie

  • 2022 – Present: Centre College Men’s Lacrosse
    • Full time starter at Goalie as a Freshman at Centre (.531%)
  • 2018 - 2021: Medina High School Boys Lacrosse
    • Four-Year Starter
    • All-Region Honorable Mention (2019)
    • All-Conference Honorable Mention (2019)
    • First-Team All-Conference (2021)

 

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Charlie Hudson - Coach / Defense

  • 2022 - Present: Plays at Seton Hill University
  • 2018 - 2021: Played at Rocky River High School
    • US Lacrosse All American (2021)
    • Ohio Division II Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
    • 1st Team All State (2021)
    • Regional Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
    • NOLL Player of the Year (2021)
    • All Ohio and All Region (2018, 2019)