Born To Coach
Mullen Hires New Boys’ Lacrosse Coach
I know of a coach who many years ago when he was just a high schooler went to his principal and asked to be a player/coach in order to keep his school’s football team from having to drop the sport. His coach unexpectedly left the school and program to fight in a war that called a lot of our young men of that era to drop everything and lay it all on the line to stop an aggressor from taking over Europe. In that void, this student was persuasive enough that the principal agreed, and he and his teammates were able to enjoy another season of play. Fast forward seven decades, and that young player/coach ended up becoming the winningest football coach in NCAA history retiring at the age of 86 after winning 500 games, 4 National Championships, and becoming one of only two active coaches selected to the Hall of Fame. That coach’s name was John Gagliardi, and he coached the Johnnies of St. John’s in Minnesota for 60 seasons.
Could Mullen similarly have found its own long-term, Hall of Fame coach with the hiring of its new head lacrosse coach? Only time will tell, of course, but hope abounds with the hiring of Garrett Braddock to lead the boys’ lacrosse program, and somewhat like the legendary John Gagliardi, Garrett also had to petition his high school administration and school board in order to begin a lacrosse program at his high school, and it took him three years to do it. The reward for his hard work was the formation of a first-time varsity team his senior year which made it to the State Playoffs. Let’s hope his acceptance is the first step of a legendary career at Mullen.
Coach Braddock comes to Mullen from a small town in New Jersey where his love of lacrosse began and bloomed. As a matter of fact, his desire to play lacrosse early on was so strong yet his hometown did not have a youth program, so his parents were forced to drive him to practices and games in other towns. He simply was not going to be denied. As Coach Braddock puts it, “ to me, lacrosse has been a grounding force in my life for as long as I can remember,” and it was that grounding force that helped him relate to the players he coached especially last spring coaching Mullen’s JV and assisting with the varsity. “It means so much to be named the next lacrosse coach at Mullen,” Coach stated. “The support that I have felt from the athletic department, my staff, and especially the team has meant the world to me. I know I am inheriting a lot of responsibility, but I know with the support system around me, we can have a successful season.”
What constitutes a successful season in this inaugural leadership role? “I know that the Mullen lacrosse program is one composed of passionate, caring, and hard-working young men. Getting to know the team as an assistant coach last year was both a lot of fun, and a huge learning experience. I know that the team has seen some tough years recently, both on the playing field and in their personal lives. I believe this is not to be shied away from, but rather embraced. If a student-athlete is able to face the hard times they have seen and overcome them, both individually and as a team, they will come out stronger on the other side.” And, those players are going to want to play, like run through brick walls, for a coach that helps them through to the other side.
Let the legend begin.
© 2020 Mullen High School. All Rights Reserved.