BOULDER (8/4/11) - The University of Colorado men's lacrosse team has hired former players Marty Taffet and Ben Weisz as assistant coaches for the 2011-12 season, head coach John Galvin announced on Thursday.
"The biggest thing is Ben and Marty understand the culture that I bring as a head coach and understand the expectations that I have for the players," Galvin said. "I think this translates better when former players are on the staff as they can help nurture the current players, so to speak."
Taffet and Weisz played together at Colorado from 2009-10 and played under Galvin during the 2009 campaign, a season in which the Buffaloes made it the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association Final Four. Both Taffet and Weisz will work with both the offense and defense and monitor the day to day operations of the team.
During the 2011 campaign, Weisz completed his senior season while Taffet entered his first year in the coaching ranks as an assistant in then head coach Mike Ryder's staff.
Taffet, an Englewood native, played his high school lacrosse at Cherry Creek where he won two state championships with the Bruins. He began his collegiate career at NCAA Division I St. John's University in New York before deciding to transfer to CU. During his two seasons in Boulder, the defenseman and long stick midfielder compiled a total of three goals and five assists while also playing an integral part in the team's face offs and clearing abilities. In 2010, he was named to the MCLA All-Tournament team at defense.
"I think this is going to be good to have Marty as an assistant coach as he can help in the transition from a different coaching staff," Galvin said. "He was a great player, a very smart guy, and his philosophy and economical thinking both on and off the field is something that I am very much looking forward to."
Weisz, from Miami, Fla., played four years of high school lacrosse at Gulliver Preparatory, with him leading the Raiders to the state final four twice. He spent three years with the Buffs, but he missed the entire 2010 season because on an injury. Weisz scored a total of six goals in 18 games, including having a two goal contest last season against Texas Tech.
"Ben brings a lot of playing experience and field attributes," Galvin said. "Even though he missed the 2010 season with an injury, he stayed involved by helping with some the administrative duties on the team, and this was a key factor in bringing him on to the staff for next season. Ben has a great passion for lacrosse which isn't often seen in a lot of guys after they graduate. His passion for the game and the university will definitely help him contribute on and off the field."
Galvin was rehired as the program's new head coach on June 23 after previously coaching at the university from 2003 to 2009. He said he is looking to hire one more assistant coach for the 2010-11 season, but he didn't release any names of the possible candidates for the position.
Galvin also announced that CU will participate in Colorado State's annual fall tournament on Oct. 15 in Fort Collins.
Colorado will begin their 2011-12 season with an informational meeting for all prospective players on Thursday Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in conference rooms 3-4 of the CU Student Recreation Center.
