The Philadelphia Waterdogs have a new voice guiding the franchise. The team has hired Dave Cottle as general manager, adding one of the most respected minds in the sport to the Premier Lacrosse League.
A proven winner at every level, Cottle led powerhouse programs at Maryland and Loyola before capturing multiple titles with the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the MLL.
We caught up with Cottle to discuss what drew him to the role, how his experience shapes his approach and his vision for the Waterdogs moving forward.
Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.
What drew you to the opportunity to become the Waterdogs’ general manager?
“Billy Tierney. … I’m not sure I would have done it for anybody else. I had a great experience in my years in the pro league with the MLL. I know a bunch of the guys, you know, and coached against them. The Kieran McArdles, the Zach Curriers, the Ben Randalls — those guys were, and a few more were in the MLL my last year in 2019. They were competitors, and Dillon Ward was another one who was in the league. I had familiarity with some of the players, but more importantly, the opportunity to help Coach Tierney.”
You’ve had tremendous success as both a coach and an executive in the MLL. How do you see your past experiences with the Bayhawks and at the collegiate level shaping your approach to managing a PLL roster?
“It’s funny — I look at the Waterdogs. The Waterdogs won a title after being 5-5, and the first year that I helped the Bayhawks in 2010, they were the last team in the playoffs, and we wound up winning the title that year.
“I think the Waterdogs and the Bayhawks, when we first started, were in a very similar position. The difference is that I became the head coach in 2011, and then we made some changes and really upgraded the personnel. We went in 2011 and 2012 and won back-to-back titles with the Bayhawks.
“The Waterdogs were two goals away from the championship game [last season]. … In professional lacrosse, there’s always been a very thin line between success and, quite honestly, playing with enthusiasm and effort — and if you’re coaching effort in a pro league, you’re in trouble.
“My experience has been that pro players make such great sacrifices, and they all want to win. Hopefully, I can add value to the players and to the coaches, and help Bill put the right guys on the bus, and then Bill can put the right guys in great seats. So that’s kind of the plan.”
How would you define your role as general manager? What will your day-to-day look like?
“Right now, I’m in communication with some of the players. We have a Zoom tonight — I guess this will be the first time I’ll be with the team on that. … My big things are the draft and the training camp.
“The [player movement] period is the one that, as a staff, we have to get together, decide what the weaknesses are and how we’re going to help in the [player movement] period. And then, if we can do a good job [there], it gets us ready to select the best players in the College Draft — not so much worry about drafting for need.”
The Waterdogs already have a strong foundation. What are your top priorities as you assess and build this roster for 2026 and beyond?
“From my previous experience, the older players took the younger players underneath their wing with servant leadership. I’m looking forward to seeing that. When we get our draft picks in and everything like that, the older guys will help the younger guys adjust to the pro league. That’s the first thing.
“Second, we’ve gotta find two-way players — they make the game easier. Two-way guys make you sub less, you ride better, you clear better. I was very fortunate to have one of the best two-way guys, Matt Abbott, for years in the pro league, and he just simplified the game.
“Now, we’ve got some guys that can do that. But your shorties on a good pro team are your toughest and most competitive people. We’ve got to be tough on defense and tough in the shorty position, and the rest will follow.
When evaluating talent, what specific qualities do you look for in a player that fits the Waterdogs?
“I think certain players bring not only their talents, but also their attitudes, effort and enthusiasm — and make people around them better. What CJ Kirst did at Cornell last spring was impressive to me. Hopefully, he can do the same thing for the Waterdogs. He makes people around him better, and we’ve got to do a good job with that.
“Our two-point play offensively and defensively is an area we need to improve on. We led the league in goals allowed, and we only scored six twos, and three of them were in two games. So we’ve got to improve in that area.
“But overall, I think they’ve got some tough kids on defense who are young and aggressive. If we can all follow the same plan, we’re going to be in a good spot.”
What message would you like to share with Waterdogs fans as you take on this new role?
“The only thing I want out of this is to add value to the players and to the coaches. I don’t care about any of the other stuff. But one thing is — winning is fun. And when you’re willing to do whatever it takes to win, you can put your head on the pillow and sleep at night.”
