Former ALL coaches set to make NLL debuts

When Curt Styres relocated his NLL Rochester franchise to Halifax the coaches of Knighthawks decided to stay behind and lead up the expansion version of those same named Knighthawks. Styres started to fill his coaching staff, naming Mike Accursi the first head coach of the Thunderbirds. Seeking coaches to assist Accursi, Styres looked outside the NLL and found what he needed in the Arena Lacrosse League, a proud NLL partner. 

First Styres announced that ALL Cup champion Roger Chrysler has been hired as a defensive coach. Chrysler who assisted Ron Henry with the champion St. Catharines Shockwave, orchestrated a defense along with Henry that finished first in the ALL a whopping 29 goals better then runner-up Peterborough Timbermen. In Chrysler, the Thunderbirds get one of the hardest workers in the game as Chrysler prides himself on game preparation and player development, roles that the Thunderbirds will rely heavily on from Roger.

Shortly after the Chrysler announcement, the Thunderbirds looked to find an offensive coach with leadership skills to over look an offense that includes one of the top players in the game in Cody Jamieson. That led Styres to again look to the ALL and after interviewing multiple candidates, Chad Culp's name rose to the top of the list, eventually being named the Thunderbirds offensive coach. Culp was an instrumental part of the 2018 ALL Cup champion Whitby Steelhawks bench combining with Brad MacArthur, Gavin Prout and Ryan McMichael to lead the expansion Steelhawks to a championship in their first year. Last season Culp took his leadership a step further when the Steelhawks required his services on the floor, returning as a player to lead a team that had lost numerous players to the NLL. 

Both Chrysler and Culp will make their coaching debuts tonight in Halifax as their hometown Thunderbirds host the expansion New York Riptide. The Arena Lacrosse League wishes both "Roger and Chad" the best of luck in their new roles in the NLL.