The Fly Head Coaches announced
We are delighted to name the first four Head Coaches for our new national event The Fly.
Sam Patterson, Vince Cara, Ryan Garnsworthy and Mike Bartlett take up Men’s Head Coach positions, while Ash Gloster, Conor Dockery, Katy Hudson and Carina Walsh are our four Women’s Head Coaches for The Fly.
The Head Coaches have been through a comprehensive application and interview process and we have been able to appoint a highly talented group of coaches that fit the standards and ethos of The Fly.
Sam Patterson is currently Assistant Coach with the England Senior Men’s squad as well as Head Coach at leading university programme Nottingham Trent where they won the 2018 BUCS Championship.
He has made his move into coaching on the back of a storied playing career playing in four World Championships and winning three European Championships.
Ash Gloster was a member of the England Women’s National squad for eight years, earning 50 caps and playing at two World Cups including captaining the side that famously won Bronze at the 2017 World Cup on home soil.
Ash has coached on the England Girls’ National Academy programme for six years and is now currently Assistant Coach for the Wales Women’s National squad working towards the 2022 World Championship.
Vince Cara has been a key part of the England Men’s U19 coaching staff, serving as Assistant Coach for the last two World Championship cycles and the successful U20 European Championship triumph in 2019.
Since 2016, Vince has also been Head Coach at Brooklands Lacrosse Club where he has overseen year-on-year improvements in developing a strong group of young players to firmly cement the club’s place as an established NEMLA Premiership side and reach the 2020 Northern Senior Flags final.
Conor Dockery has over a decade of coaching experience and currently works with some of the brightest young talent on the England Girls' National Academy to develop future stars.
As a player Conor has international pedigree, representing Ireland at two World and one European Indoor Championships and has coached across a number of formats including at clubs and universities.
Katy Hudson After representing the England Women’s National Squad for 13 years, competing at four World Cups, captaining the side, and winning two World Cup bronze medals, Katy has now moved on to coaching lacrosse to the next generation.
She has coached on England Girls’ Regional and National Academies since the programme inception and is a former coach with both England U19 and U21 squads overseeing the progress of countless future internationals.
Ryan Garnsworthy is a 3-time World Championship bronze medallist with Australia including captaining his side at the 2010 Championship in Manchester.
Since 2013 he has been a part of the England U19 coaching team, first as Assistant Coach for the 2016 World Championship, before then being appointed Head Coach of the programme in 2017.
Carina Walsh has overseen the nationally renowned programme at Oxton Lacrosse Club.
Over the last decade, the club has produced a continual conveyer belt of international talent that has been a part of a team that's won 10 straight North League titles and been crowned European Club Champions on five occasions.
Carina also coaches at the England Girls National Academy and is the new Head of Lacrosse at Moreton Hall School.
Mike Bartlett has made his name in the coaching world through his highly successful time as Head Coach of Poynton Lacrosse Club since 2015.
Mike is currently Assistant Coach with the England Senior Men’s national team while also carrying out Head Coach duties with the Spanish national side who he led at the 2018 World Championship.
Check out the full Head Coach profiles for The Fly HERE
