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PBA Men: Tempone Names Staff For Upcoming Season

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , , .
  via PBA press release  

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The coaching staff is set for Palm Beach Atlantic’s first varsity season of men’s lacrosse. Head Coach Stephen Tempone has announced his first staff, with four assistants who have already been crucial to the development of the team during the fall season.

Tempone – who was hired in 2016 to spearhead the recruiting and development of the first team – has announced the additions of Jesse VanattaMatt BellandoJake Reed and Chris “Suds” Southard to his staff. Vanatta and Southard carry over from their time with the club program at PBA while Bellando and Reed bring in experience from all over the country.

“To say I am excited about the coaching staff would be an understatement,” said Tempone. “We have great balance as a staff and our players have responded very well to the dynamic of our younger and more mature coaches this past fall. I am excited to see how our players develop on and off the field as they play Sailfish Lacrosse.”

Jesse Vanatta A PBA graduate in 2013, Vanatta was a three-year captain of the club team and was selected as an all-conference performer. He helped guide the team to their first-ever conference championship appearance as a player in 2010 and to their first national championship tournament appearance as a coach in 2013. Since graduating, he’s served as the defensive coordinator for the club team and assisted with administrative duties including game planning, scheduling, travel and equipment. In addition to his work at PBA he was part of FCA Lacrosse South Florida from 2013-17 and has worked with the Florida Launch of Major League Lacrosse since 2014.

Tempone on Vanatta – “He brings a great understanding of the university as a four-year student-athlete and then as an assistant coach for another four years with the club program. Coach Jesse will be an assistant coach on the defensive side of the ball for the Sailfish this spring.”

Matt Bellando Bellando played collegiately for both Long Island University Post and Stony Brook where he amassed 119 goals during his four years including 92 at LIU Post. He was a two-time All-ECC performer for the Pioneers while also being named the ECC Championship Most Outstanding Player as LIU Post won the ECC Championship in 2016. The Pioneers also were champions in 2015, defeating New York Tech both years. A South Florida native, Bellando attended Saint Andrew’s School where he was a three-time Palm Beach Post Boy’s Lacrosse Player of the Year as the Scots won three FHSAA Championships. He was also named the Florida Daily Farmer Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. He spent the 2017 season on staff at LIU Post as the offensive coordinator where he created game and practice plans as well as worked with player development. He was a member of the Florida Launch during the 2017 season.

Tempone on Bellando – “A South Florida stand out high school player, Matt went on to play DI and DII college lacrosse on Long Island.  Coach Matt truly understands the run and gun – blue collared style of lacrosse we want to play here at PBA and will assist on the offensive side of the ball.”

Jake Reed Jake Reed has been coaching lacrosse at the highest level for 30 years. He was the defensive coordinator at Army before becoming the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. For 13 years, Jake coached at the McDonogh School in Baltimore where he won 2 MIAA Championships and twice had teams that were ranked No. 1 in the country. Two of Jake’s players were awarded the C Markland Kelly Award as the best lacrosse player in Maryland and Reed was the Baltimore Sun’s Coach of the Year as well as the MSLCA Coach of the Year. He is also the former director of the US U-19 team and was an assistant coach on the Gold Medal winning 1999 U-19 team in Australia. He also previously coached at Dulaney High School, where he was an all-American goalie before going to Maryland where he was a two-time all-American. He is the owner and director of the Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp which is generally regarded as one of the top recruiting camps in the country.

Tempone on Reed – “Brings over 40 years of coaching experience with over 300 wins as a head coach at the high school and college levels. Coach Reed will work with our goalies and coach our transition game.”

Chris Southard Coach Suds is no stranger to Palm Beach Atlantic lacrosse, having served as the head coach of the club team since its inception. He guided the team to the SELC Championship game for the first time in 2015 and finished with 13 wins which tied the most in program history. A Long Island native, Southard graduated from Guilford College in North Carolina where he played lacrosse for the Quakers. He also received a degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and serves on staff at First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach. He is also one of the founders of FCA South Florida Lacrosse.

Tempone on Suds – “He started the PBA Sailfish club team over 16 years ago and will continue to work with our players on and off the field.  Coach Suds primary focus will be in the leadership development of our student-athletes.”

   

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