Wings name former standout and offensive coordinator Tucker as head coach

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/14/10
From Press Releases

The Philadelphia Wings today named former Wings standout and Offensive Coordinator John Tucker as the team’s new head coach.

A player during the Wings’ inaugural season, Tucker led the team to two National Lacrosse League Championships in 1989 and 1990, and becomes the eighth coach in Wings history on the eve of their 25th Anniversary Season.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the ownership group of the Philadelphia Wings for this incredible opportunity.” said Tucker, “We will work tirelessly to return this franchise to its rightful place atop the National Lacrosse League standings. Our team will play with passion, energy and rekindle the fire, which, over the years, has been the trademark of the Wings franchise.”

“We are very proud to name John Tucker as our new head coach.” said Wings President and Owner Russ Cline, “John’s great play as a former Wing earned him selection into this year’s 2010 NLL Hall Of Fame class.

“He’s a tremendous leader and played on a number of the Wings World Championship teams. He has gone on to become a very experienced and winning coach. We are confident John will field a team that is exciting to watch and will get us back to the playoffs. It’s a great day for the Wings organization and our fans.”

A renowned coach and player, Tucker comes to the Wings after serving as head coach of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). He has compiled a 30-19 MLL record since taking over the LA Riptide expansion team in 2006.

The Riptide reached the MLL NB ZIP Championship Weekend in their last two seasons. Tucker also coached professionally in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL), leading the Baltimore Thunder to the championship game against the Philadelphia Wings in 1998.

In the high school ranks, Tucker has won four Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) championships – three at Gilman School and one at Loyola Blakefield, both in Baltimore, Maryland before going on to build the LA Riptide.

Tucker, a resident of Towson, Maryland, brings with him a highly decorated playing career as well. Collegiately, he played midfield on the 1984 undefeated Johns Hopkins squad and led the Blue Jays to the NCAA Division I title that year. Tucker was a member of Team USA in the World Lacrosse Championships in 1986, 1990, and 1994 and captained the ’90 and ’94 teams.