On Jan. 30, the Premier Lacrosse League announced Roy Colsey and Spencer Ford as the new head coach and general manager of the Carolina Chaos, respectively.

On Sunday, Colsey and Ford met with the media for the first time to discuss their plans for the Chaos’s future alongside PLL President and Co-Founder Paul Rabil. 

Unlike other PLL teams, which all employ one head coach/GM, the Chaos are the first to split those duties between two individuals.

“When we first transitioned our existing head coaches to dual responsibilities as GMs, we had discussions with them about bringing on additional personnel to take on those roles and responsibilities,” Rabil said. “Part of the growing, and some might call it growing pains, of the league is learning when to balance the needs of our athletes, the needs of our coaches and what the market is ready to dictate.”

Chemistry

Colsey and Ford are both experienced in their roles. 

After his professional career ended, Ford spent multiple years in executive roles. As the general manager of the Chesapeake Bayhawks, he led them to three MLL championships in six years. As the Atlanta Blaze’s director of player personnel, Ford built a roster nearing a potential deep playoff run before the coronavirus pandemic ended the season. He has an excellent scouting and coaching track record that has helped shape championship rosters. 

Colsey has extensive experience as a field and box lacrosse player. In 2023, he was inducted into the Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He has coached the United States box lacrosse team and spent many years coaching high school lacrosse in Connecticut. 

The No. 1 thing they are focusing on is building chemistry together and among their team. 

“Chemistry in pro lacrosse is the hardest thing,” Ford said. “Everybody's good if we just talk about each individual player. We can say, ‘Wow, that guy is excellent.’ But when you think about putting it all together, it just might not be the greatest fit. And so that's what we have to find and observe.” 

The two have never worked together professionally and will experience some growing pains. The Chaos won’t be perfect immediately, but Ford and Colsey should work well together because they mutually respect one another. 

“I feel like I got the No. 1 pick in the GM draft,” Colsey said. “It happened to be the first time that we're getting a GM, and I would not have wanted to have been the second or the third or the fourth guy to have a GM. I feel like I got the best GM there is in the game. The timing worked out really well for me, it worked out really well for Spencer, and I'm really excited to have someone as successful and who has proven himself to be a great evaluator of talent alongside me, and we’ll build this thing together.”

The two have worked to build as much chemistry as possible ahead of free agency on March 3, a process that will continue through the spring. 

“For us to compete consistently and to be in the top half of the league and make the [Championship Series] and win another title, we have to find the way to build some chemistry and to get the offense up to speed,” Colsey said. 

Ford is focused on signing players who fit Colsey’s systems. 

“We don't think it's far away, but we do think that we might be two to four pieces away from really contending and taking that next step forward,” Ford said. “There's a few guys that have already signed contracts that we were going to certainly be on the phone with, ones that have not yet. And so, there are guys on our radar that we can see fitting into that puzzle. And completing it.”

Thoughts on the current roster

The strength of the Chaos has always been its defense, which Ford called "championship-ready."

Anchored by five-time Oren Lyons Goaltender of the Year Blaze Riorden and the pole trio of Jack Rowlett, Will Bowen and pending free agent Jarrod Neumann. Carolina has the tools on the defensive side of the field to win a title.

“The backbone of the Chaos has been the defense,” Colsey said. “It continues to be the defense. Spencer and I are obviously working on what we have, where our strengths are, our strength lies in a phenomenal goalie and a really strong defense.”

Last season, the Chaos had the league’s best defense but also its lowest-scoring offense. Colsey and Ford said fixing that offense is the team's top priority. 

“The elephant in the room for us was the offense, the production and how we make it better,” Colsey said. “I talked a lot about having a pitcher who’s throwing a great game with no run support sometimes, and so I feel like our defense has been phenomenal; they’ve been pitching really well.” 

How the players feel

“I’ve heard from some of them personally, and they’re thrilled with these guys,” Rabil said. 

A few players have shared similar messages with me. 

There is an understanding that Chaos lacrosse is entering a new era, but the players are excited to return to the field with the team and new staff.

Who makes up the staff?

Colsey hasn’t announced who his assistant coaches will be. However, he did release some information. 

“The guys that I’ve been talking to the most are guys that I have very, very close relationships [with],” Colsey said. “It’s going to be a really great staff, and you’ll certainly recognize the names.”

Colsey played with many great players in his career and could build an excellent staff from his former teammates. 

Schematics

When the Chaos won the PLL Championship in 2021, they were predominantly a one-handed team that executed a pairs offense with enough success behind the dominant defense. In the past couple of years, the team has transitioned to a more two-handed dodging squad that hasn’t found a rhythm, but it still possesses many players with box backgrounds. 

Colsey’s box and field lacrosse background makes him an excellent fit for finding a remedy for Carolina’s recent struggles. 

“Part of the appeal, and I think one of the ways I moved to the top of the list was having that background,” Colsey said. “Playing in the NLL for a very long time and coaching the U.S. team and starting to build relationships, not just with the American players, but also some of the Canadian guys by playing against them. For another job, my skill set might not have been the perfect fit.”

Colsey wants his players to use their dominant hand and plans on scheming his roster for where they’re comfortable. He wants a balanced offense but emphasized that dominant hands are essential to him.

"I want guys to put their best hand forward not their best foot forward," Colsey said. 

Playing for Carolina

The Chaos call American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte home, and Ford and Colsey both are excited to represent the region and the Red Legion. 

“I’m looking forward to the Red Legion with Michael Harrison; it’s just a lot of fun,” Ford said. “It was always nice to go to Charlotte and play, and the stadium itself is really cool. It’s a really intimate environment to play in, so I’m looking forward to getting there.”

Both alluded to the loud drum Harrison bangs to ignite volume in the home crowd. 

“Knowing we have a home base and especially a fan base that’s so excited about it and so supportive, I can’t wait to be there,” Colsey said.