The Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse team has recently announced that they have made a coaching change ahead of their 2021 season.
Bob Heyes will no longer be head coach following a eight-year term with the Senior A club; according to the team, he was offered another position within the organization, but declined in order to focus on other projects.
“The Shamrocks are deeply appreciative of Bob’s contributions to the club, and grateful to his family for allowing him and supporting him in his dedication to the club over the years, from his playing days through his coaching career,” said General Manager Chris Welch.
Heyes has been a part of the Shamrocks family for quite some time – he first joined the as a goaltender in 1992, and continued to play with the club until 1998, as well as in 2000 and 2002.
The former head coach won a Mann Cup as a player in 1997, and later joined the team as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 2012.
Heyes was able to rack up an impressive record as the club’s bench boss, with 157 wins, 83 losses, and 3 ties over his tenure.
The club also made the playoffs every year under his leadership, winning the WLA playoff championship in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019, and winning the Mann Cup in 2015.
“This was a difficult decision to make,” said the General Manager in a release.
“It certainly isn’t one we took lightly. Nobody works harder or is better prepared than Bob Heyes.”
“I’ve had the feeling for some time that we needed a fresh voice of leadership behind the bench – and it’s not because of Bob’s abilities or that he did anything wrong. It’s just a reality of coaching in sports that it is a temporary job, and every coach will eventually run their course with a team; I feel we have reached that point.”
According to the Shamrocks, an announcement surrounding a new head coach is expected in the coming weeks.
