“I would like to thank Regy and the whole staff for helping set the foundation for the Riptide in their inaugural season,” Executive Vice President of GF Sports Rich Lisk said. “While this was not a hasty or easy decision, I felt after evaluating our lacrosse operations department that this move was needed for the best interest of the organization. I look forward to putting together a staff that will help us become the premier team in the NLL on and off the field.”
Thorpe was hired on February 16, 2019 and served as the first head coach in New York Riptide history. Prior to coaching, Thorpe spent 15 seasons playing in the NLL with the Rochester Knighthawks and won two NLL Championships during his career.
“I’d like to thank GF Sports for the opportunity and respect their decision,” Thorpe said. “I’d also like thank my staff who worked tirelessly around the clock to put the work in to get a team off the ground. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this group of men and wish them continued success.”
“I have a lot of respect for what Regy and his staff did…coming in here and starting a team from scratch and building the foundation for us to build on,” Lisk said during a virtual press conference. “But it was my recommendation moving forward as an organization that this was the best path to take.”
Lisk said he consulted players when making the decision and will continue to do so while the team searchers for a replacement at head coach and general manager. Lisk added that he hopes to hire replacements by the end of July and said he is open to filling the vacancy at head coach and general manager with either one person or two different candidates. He also said that he has not ruled out the possibility of becoming the team’s general manager himself, a position he held with the Philadelphia Wings/New Englad Black Wolves before joining GF Sports.
Prior to joining GF Sports as the executive vice president in January, Lisk served as the New England Black Wolves general manager. (Photo courtesy of New England Black Wolves)
“This is the step for us to build this organization for the next 10-15 years. I’m painstakingly making sure we find the right people for that job, starting with the head job,” Lisk stated. “I’m not closing the door on anything. I came from a GM background, but if I find the right candidate that can be a GM and head coach, then I’ll look in that direction… there’s not pathway where I’m saying this is the only way we’re going to look for something.”
Lisk also elaborated that he is open to all candidates, both seasoned coaches with NLL experience and those who have coaching experience at other levels.
“We’re going to keep everything open, because I believe that gives us the best opportunity to find the best candidate for this organization.”
The new coaching staff will have its work cut out for it as it tries to build on a one-win season. The team will also presumably hold the top draft pick in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, barring the addition of the NLL’s rumored 14th franchise.
Who do you think should replace Regy Thorpe as the new head coach and GM of the New York Riptide? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Hutton Jackson is a professional video editor, co-founder/host of Pro Lacrosse Talk and editor-in-chief of Lacrosse Playground. He is also an Emmy-winning associate producer with two major sports networks and oversees Lacrosse Playground's video content as the head coordinating producer. Hutton played four years of college lacrosse at DeSales University where his highest lacrosse accolade was being named to Inside Lacrosse's 2014 All-Name Team with current pros Challen Rogers, Deemer Class and Larken Kemp, an honor that didn't require stepping on the field. When he's not writing on lacrosse, he can usually be found diving around the crease in your local men's league and ranting about Baltimore and D.C. professional sports.
Predicting the PLL Protected Player Rosters (Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast #129)
byPro Lacrosse Talk
On this episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast, Hutton Jackson and Adam Moore are joined by Lacrosse Playground contributor Brian Andrews. They discuss the Atlas cutting Scott Rodgers, Jeremy Thompson, Kyle Hartzell and Callum Robinson, the trade that sent Rob Pannell to the Redwoods and Chris Hogan, Dalton Crossan and Garrett Thul joining the PLL. They also discuss the retirement of Matt Danowski and Brett Schmidt, provide their predictions for the protected rosters particularly with Dillon Ward, Connor Fields, Paul Rabil, Joe Walters and Kyle Harrison, and theorize what it would take for Coach Sean Quirk to trade the top pick in the PLL Entry Draft and presumably the chance to draft Lyle Thompson.
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Pro Lacrosse Talk is the flagship lacrosse podcast of the Lacrosse Playground network covering all three professional lacrosse leagues (NLL, PLL, Athletes Unlimited). Each week throughout the season we’ll recap the games, provide analysis on the teams and feature exclusive postgame and off-the-field interviews with professional lacrosse players, coaches and executives. If you’re a fan of lacrosse podcasts like the Unbuckled Chinstrap, The Inside Feed, Lacrosse Classified or The Crease Dive, then give us a listen.