By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/23/11
Jim Beury has been named head boys’ lacrosse coach at Archbishop Wood.
Beury is a founding coach and director for the LB3 club program and also has coached in the Crooked Crosse youth program in Upper Dublin.
He replaces Don Mangin, who spent 12 years as coach at Wood. The Vikings went 7-10 in 2010, reaching the Catholic League quarterfinals.
Beury grew up in Montclair, N.J., and then moved to North Carolina for his high school years. He never played lacrosse in high school or college, but fell for the sport when his sons, Scott and Willy, began playing in Crooked Crosse in 2000.
Beury soon helped launch LB3 while coaching in the program at the U15 and high school age levels.
“I have learned a lot as an adult about lacrosse,” said Beury, who also has spent 12 years in lacrosse apparel and equipment manufacturing and is owner of LaxZone in Ambler. “I wanted the job because I really believe lacrosse is an exceptional opportunity for young men to learn life skills in a very healthy environment that can open doors that otherwise would not be open.
“I look at the opportunity not to win the league, but to develop the program so it creates those opportunities for the kids. If I’m successful in that, then I have every expectation that we’ll be competitive in the league.”
Beury sees many positives as well as challenges in taking the job – especially with the season fast approaching.
Wood has long been a well-respected program – having made the Catholic League playoffs nine straight years under Mangin. The Vikings went 141-70 under Mangin, but never made the Catholic League finals, mainly because perennial champion La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep have dominated the league for years.
Beury knows several of the Wood players from club lacrosse and is aware of the strong tradition of the program.
“The excitement of the game is that you can develop kids, and you can do it even without exemplary skills,” Beury said. “You want your kids to feel that their goal is control their own destiny, know their objective and go for it.
“I am really excited to develop the program and have the benefit of what looks like very healthy and competent roster.”
Beury said he is looking for assistant coaches and would welcome anyone interested. Please contact him at jimbeury@comcast.net or 215-205-0440.
