Meet our Coaches!
2023 Team Coaches:
Coach Mike McBride -Face Off - Coach McBride comes to the 79ers with 30 years of coaching and playing experience. He recently accepted the Head Coaching position at Trinity HS, continues to coach Peters Township Youth Lacrosse, and has spent recent years as the Head Coach for both La Roche College and Peters Township High School. While at PTHS, Coach McBride won a school-record 59 games in five seasons and also guided his team to the WPIAL playoffs every year, after a four year drought. In 2013, he was named the Division I Western Pennsylvania Coach of the Year after finishing with a 15-2 record. He graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2006, where he was a four-year starter and two-time captain, and was also a four-time, first-team All State performer at Hilliard Darby High School just outside of Columbus, Ohio. He currently lives in the South Hills with his wife Rachel and their three boys Chase, Corey and Conor.
Coach Ajay Hamer - Offense - Coach Hamer is a native to Moon Township, PA where he played his High School years, followed briefly after at La Roche College. He has since spent time as an assistant coach at Trinity High School in Washington, PA as well as other summer club teams. He takes on the role as one of the lead offensive coaches with our High School groups.
2024 Team Coaches:
Coach Darrin Niemeyer - Defense - Coach Niemeyer is a Canon Mac native with over ten years of lacrosse coaching experience at both the youth and high school levels. Darrin was a four year varsity player and two year captain at Canon Mac as well as first team All-League in 2007. Upon graduation, he went on to play box lacrosse for the Pittsburgh Octane before coming back to Canon Mac as the Assistant Head Coach and leading Canon Mac to their first WPIAL championship game in 2015. He has also spent time as the Assistant Head Coach at Chartiers Valley High School, and worked with their defense and goalies.
2025 Team Coaches:
Coach James Lemessurier - Offense/Defense - Coach Lemessurier comes to us from Bethel Park Youth Lacrosse where he serves as their 14U Head Coach and board Vice President. Originally from the Upstate New York area, he attended Syracuse University where he won two NCAA DI National Championships in the 90's. He serves as an offensive and defensive assistant to our Middle School groups.
2026 Team Coaches:
Coach Richie Leeds - Offense - Coach Leeds comes to us from Canon-Mac Youth Lacrosse where he serves as their 14U Head Coach. He played four years at Canon-MacMillan as an attackman, and he brings that experience to our Middle School ages for his fourth year with the club.
2027 Team Coaches:
Coach Kevin Dowd - Offense/Defense - Coach Dowd spent his high school years in the Syracuse N.Y. area where he competed in lacrosse, cross country and track and field at Liverpool H.S. He set multiple school and sectional records as a member of the 4x800 relay, and at the time of his graduation his 800 meter time was the second fastest in school history. He later attended the State University of Fredonia where he specialized in 800 and 1500 meters for their track team all four years, and was a co-captain his Senior year. Post collegiate activity brought Kevin back to his lacrosse roots, as he now coaches in the Canon Mac youth program, and is USLacrosse Level 1 certified. Kevin brings to the program a diversity of athletic development learned from his background not just in lacrosse but that of a collegiate runner. He currently lives in Southpointe with his son Brady and daughter Bella.
Coach Tom Roule - Offense/Defense - Coach Roule comes to us from Bethel Park Youth lacrosse where he is the 12U Head Coach. A native to the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, he has spent his time running the former Pittsburgh Lacrosse Club, as well as the Pittsburgh Octane box lacrosse club, serving as a defenseman and goalie respectively.
Coach Jeremiah Johnson - Defense - Jeremiah is an Eastern Ohio native, transplanted to Pittsburgh 10 years ago. He grew up playing basketball and football and one season of NCAA Division III football. After coaching youth flag football, baseball and basketball, his passion for lacrosse began five years ago after his oldest son decided to "try it out". After making a career change to allow spending more time with his family, he has been helping coach Canon Mac Youth Lacrosse for the past few years, and is currently a USLacrosse Level 1 Certified Coach. Jeremiah lives in Canonsburg with his wife Missy and their three boys Zach, Luke, and Zeke.
2028 Team Coaches:
Coach Conner Niemeyer - Offense - Coach Niemeyer comes to us as a current attackman at Washington & Jefferson College, after playing four years at Canon-Mac High School and spending time on the Robert Morris and La Roche teams at the collegiate ranks. He returns for his third year with the club and will serve as the primary offensive coach at the youngest ranks.
2029 Team Coaches:
Coach Michael Fisher - Michael grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and played multiple sports through high school. He was a Division I co-ed cheerleader at Temple University and played club rugby as an adult. He was an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal trainer for 8 years. He has been coaching since 21 years of age, starting as a strength and stunt coach for high school cheerleading and now coaching youth baseball, basketball, and lacrosse. Coach Fisher is currently a USLacrosse Level 1 certified coach with Canon Mac's youth program (both 10U and 12U), where all three of his children play. Michael lives in Canonsburg with his wife Carrie, sons Andy and Jake, and daughter Molly.
Coach Dan Truesdell - Coach Truesdell comes to us from the Canon-Mac Youth Lacrosse group, where he serves as a 10U coach. With a background in football and other athletics, he is currently focusing on becoming USA Lacrosse Level 1 certified by the end of this summer.
Coach Steve Magan - Coach Magan comes to us from Peters Township Youth where he serves as a 10U coach.
10U Team Coaches:
Coach Jerry Frazee - Coach Frazee comes to us from Canon-Mac Youth as well as Trinity Girls Youth. He has spent the past three years with our club helping out both offensive and defensive groups.
Coach Nate Mauro - Coach Mauro joins us for his third year with the club, hailing from Canon-Mac Youth where he helps with the 10U and 8U programs. He played his High School days at Peters Township, as an attack and midfielder for the Indians.