Taking over as Seton Hill University’s (SHU) new head coach of both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams is Brian Novotny, former head coach at Mt. Lebanon and Franklin Regional High School.
Novotny is replacing last year’s head coach, Rick Matthews, who, according to Associate Athletic Director Dan McCarty, found another position in the Baltimore area, along with his wife who earned a teaching position.
By Denishia Salter,
Sports Editor
Taking over as Seton Hill University’s (SHU) new head coach of both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams is Brian Novotny, former head coach at Mt. Lebanon and Franklin Regional High School.
Novotny is replacing last year’s head coach, Rick Matthews, who, according to Associate Athletic Director Dan McCarty, found another position in the Baltimore area, along with his wife who earned a teaching position.
�It was a good move for him (Matthews) to go back to his hometown and work. He and his family are doing great and we wish them the best,� said McCarty.
Now that Novotny is taking over, Assistant to the President, Monsignor David Rubino is looking forward to him restoring the lacrosse program back to full health.
�Lacrosse is such a new sport and I think that makes it harder on him. But I think he is off to a wonderful start to putting the program back together,� said Rubino.
Being that lacrosse is such a new sport, it has not been made official by the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), however, it is not just a club sport.
�I am aware that SHU does recognize lacrosse as an official team. However, the NAIA doesn’trecognize lacrosse as a varsity sport,� said Novotny.
Novotny is not fazed by this and is eager to begin working with both teams. Still, he knows it won’tbe a walk in the park.
�I am excited about coaching both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Though I have more of a background in men’s than women’s because of my previous coaching experience, I am looking forward to it because I can now really sink my teeth into learning the women’s game more and getting into the strategies,� said Novotny.
And to help him throughout this process, he will be hiring a woman to fill the position as the women’s assistant coach.
�I felt as that since I was lacking in experience and knowledge on the women’s side that I would hire a woman who knows the women’s game and could help in that area,� said Novotny.
According to Novotny, he has already completed three interviews and is now checking references. He expects the position to be filled within a couple of weeks.
On top of recruiting a new assistant coach, Novotny has been recruiting new players for each team.
According to Novotny, for the men’s team there are eight returning players and 10 freshmen recruits have been brought in. On the women’s side there are nine returning players and two recruits have been brought in.
The head coach is not the only person ready for the season to start. �The players are excited because there are more kids with experience and more games on the schedule,� said Novotny.
The teams have been conditioning and practicing five days a week. The men also have scrimmages scheduled. The women currently do not have enough players to scrimmage because the majority of the players play multiple sports and are currently in season.
SHU’s athletic department is behind Novotny. �He is a huge asset and a fine addition to our coaching staff. Along with recruiting [and] interviewing, he also has been running some practices, his plate is pretty full right now. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to finish what Coach Matthews started,� said McCarty.
To view all articles by this writer Click here.