DENVER – Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the Denver Outlaws announced today that Head Coach and General Manager Brian Reese has been selected as the 2009 Brine MLL Coach of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on votes from the league's head coaches and general managers.

Reese led Denver to a league-best 9-3 record in 2009, becoming the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot and the top overall seed throughout the postseason. Reese, who since 2005 has served as the team's General Manager, took over the head coaching duties five games into the 2007 season. The Outlaws have qualified for the playoffs in each season since joining the league in 2006.

All-time under Coach Reese, the Outlaws have a regular season record of 22 wins and 9 losses (a .709 winning percentage). Reese has also coached the team to a 1-2 record in the postseason (.333). Last season Denver reached the New Balance MLL Championship Game, where they were defeated 16-6 by the Rochester Rattlers (now Toronto Nationals).

During the regular season this year, the Outlaws bolstered the third best offense in the league, averaging 13.83 goals-per-game. Not to be outdone on the defensive side of play, Denver also allowed a league-leading 11.50 goals-per-game.

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Reese spent four seasons (2001-2004) as a defenseman with the Baltimore Bayhawks and a final campaign with the Philadelphia Barrage in 2005. Through his MLL career, Reese appeared in 53 regular season games and collected a total of 106 groundballs. His playoff experience includes six games with the Bayhawks as well.

All-Time MLL Coaches of the Year
2001 - John DeTomasso, Long Island Lizards
2002 - Scott Hiller, Boston Cannons
2003 - Ted Georgalas, New Jersey Pride
2004 - Sal LoCascio, Philadelphia Barrage
2005 - Scott Hiller, Boston Cannons
2006 - Tony Resch, Philadelphia Barrage
2007 - John Tucker, Los Angeles Riptide
2008 - Tony Resch, Philadelphia Barrage
2009 - Brian Reese, Denver Outlaws

Beating out the other candidates handily, Reese received a total of 52 points and nine first place votes. Boston Cannons' Coach Bill Daye was a second with 18 points. In 2008, Reese finished third in the Coach of the Year voting, while also receiving four first-place votes.

Reese and the #1 seeded Denver Outlaws will take on Boston Cannons (6-6) in the first semifinal game of the New Balance Championship Weekend at 10:00 PM MT on Saturday, August 22. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2HD. Denver will host a viewing party to watch the semifinal game at Lodo's Bar and Grill in downtown Denver with drink specials, prizes and more. Doors open at 9:30 AM MT that day. The winner of the Denver/Boston battle will face either the Toronto Nationals (7-5) or the Long Island Lizards (6-6) in the New Balance MLL Championship Game on Sunday, August 23 at 11:00 AM MT.

2009-08-14