LOS ANGELES, CA. (January 2, 2020) - Today, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced that Andy Copelan will become the coach of Waterdogs LC, the League’s expansion club set to debut for the 2020 season.

Copelan most recently served as Head Coach of the Fairfield University Men’s Lacrosse Team for eleven years (2008-2019). In this position, Copelan led the program to 87 wins and left with the highest win percentage in school history. Copelan guided Fairfield to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Regular Season Champions and was named CAA Coach of the Year in 2015. Prior to his position at Fairfield, Copelan served as the Head Coach for Marist College from 2004-2006 and as an Assistant Coach for the University of Maryland from 2006-2008. During his time at the helm of Marist College, he led the program to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in history (2005). As a player, Copelan was a four-year starter at Bucknell University and notably led the team to four consecutive Patriot League titles. He is also a member of the US Lacrosse Rochester Chapter Hall of Fame.

"I could not be more excited and energized to join the PLL,” says Copelan. “The vision, execution, thoughtfulness, leadership and passion are clear and an overall indication of what the league is building.  To coach at the highest level of our sport with the best players in the world and for a league that ‘gets it’ is an opportunity for which I will always be grateful. Thank you to Paul and Mike Rabil for the responsibility of building this expansion team from the ground up. I can’t wait to assemble our roster, get on the field with these professionals and build a championship caliber team."

“Andy has an exceptional track record of both building programs from the ground up and getting the best out of his players,” says PLL Co-Founder and CEO Mike Rabil. “Our entire front office was blown away when Andy outlined his ambitious plans for the Waterdogs as they enter their first season. We are all delighted to have such a talented coach onboard and we can’t wait for him to take the helm.”

Copelan will take the helm of the recently named Waterdogs LC, announced yesterday. The Expansion Draft for Waterdogs LC will take place on February 12th. Details on the Expansion Draft can be found here.

ABOUT PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE 

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the sport has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson Holdings and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The PLL’s inaugural season began on June 1, 2019 with six clubs that embarked on a 14-week season that concluded on September 21, 2019. The PLL season is distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague) and YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL).