The Boston Cannons added two respected names to their coaching staff, announcing the hires of John Odierna and Alec Jernstedt as assistant coaches.

Odierna, currently the defensive coordinator at Syracuse University, brings a deep background in collegiate coaching. Prior to joining the Orange in 2024, he served as the head coach at Manhattan College, where he led the program to a MAAC Championship and an NCAA tournament berth in 2022. Widely regarded for his defensive schemes and player development, Odierna will now step into a key role with a Cannons defense that allowed 11.5 points per game last season (second-best in the PLL).

Cannons head coach and general manager Brian Holman praised Odierna as a “student of the game” with a tremendous work ethic and a clear teaching mindset. 

“He’s very, very knowledgeable … a wonderful teacher of the game,” Holman said. “His ability to simplify and really teach the defensive side – I think that’s going to be a wonderful quality for us.” 

Holman also called Odierna “a great communicator with a cool personality,” mentioning that his energy and passion made him a natural fit for the Cannons culture.

Jernstedt joins the Cannons coaching staff with eight seasons as the only head men’s lacrosse coach at Grove City College, where he built the program from the ground up. Under his leadership, Grove City went 76-35 overall through their last seven seasons, captured five consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles and made multiple NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including a run to the third round in 2023. 

Jernstedt has been named PAC Coach of the Year five times and coached numerous All-Americans during his tenure. He also brings experience from the Division I level, having served as a volunteer assistant at both Duke and Delaware. Additionally, he currently leads the Puerto Rico men’s national team, which finished 10th at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships. 

A former LSM at Towson with a reputation for building winners, Jernstedt now takes over an offense that, two years ago, was the most efficient in pro lacrosse since the 2016 New York Lizards. That 2023 Cannons group clicked at an elite level. And though Boston’s efficiency dipped in 2024 as the lineup shifted, all the core pieces are still in place. Now it’s Jernstedt’s job to get them back there.

According to Holman, Jernstedt brings a creative and player-first approach. 

“He’s kind of an out-of-the-box thinker. He’s very relationship-driven. His coaching style is relationship first and then X’s and O’s after,” Holman said. “He’s going to challenge me, push me to be a better coach, and he has a really good ability to relate to and motivate players.” 

Holman, who has known Jernstedt for over 15 years dating back to their time coaching UNC camps together, said his energy and curiosity will be a major asset. 

Holman’s familiarity with both coaches made his decision to add them to the Cannons staff an easy one.

“I’m ecstatic,” he exclaimed. “To get both of these guys to replace coaches I truly love and respect, I couldn’t be happier. I think our guys are very, very fortunate to have two men like this on our professional staff.”

With their revamped coaching staff in place, the Cannons now turn their focus to the 2025 College Draft. Boston will look to round out its already loaded roster, and Odierna and Jernstedt will play a central role in shaping how that develops. 

The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them in the right places.