By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, posted 12/5/13
Rob Forster, the offensive coordinator the past two years at state champion La Salle, has been named the head coach at Academy of the New Church.
Forster, a high school All-American at La Salle in 2005 who helped the Explorers win their first of four state titles in 2004, had moved up from JV head coach (2010-11) after starring as a player at Penn State.
Forster also is an 8th Grade coach for the new HEADstrong North program and has coached with NXT and PYLA
Forster answered these questions about his new job:
Why did you pursue the job at ANC?
Forster: “ANC has a tremendous community that really wants to help build this lacrosse program. I have the opportunity to work with a great group of student-athletes and the facilities are amazing. I get the chance to do what I love, work with great kids and have a positive impact on their lives. I’ll also be working as ANC’s Director of Camps, where our goal will be to bring students on the campus through athletic camps and run clinics like the ANC Holiday Lacrosse clinic we’ll be hosting on December 21st.
What are your short-term goals there?
Forster: “We are going to get out there as team and work hard every day. We have high expectations for the team and will push our student-athletes to grow as lacrosse players and young men. As a program we have the opportunity to win the Friends League, and compete with teams on our schedule in 2013.”
What are your long-term goals there?
Forster: “We are looking forward to building a national schedule and competing for the Inter-Ac Invitational championship each season. Our staff is dedicated to providing the instruction and guidance needed to send players to the next level of lacrosse. As former collegiate players, our staff knows that it takes much more than athletic ability to be successful at the next level. And our focus will be on developing a college-like atmosphere at ANC where our student-athletes succeed in the classroom, on the field, and as role models in our great community.
What is your general coaching philosophy?
Forster: “As a coach, I’m constantly looking for progress and growth as a team. Is each individual player getting better? Is each unit getting better? The team needs to consistently be working towards a higher level of lacrosse. I’d like us to play an up-temp brand of lacrosse, but I also need to see what will work best for this team. One thing we will always do is work hard and represent ANC on and off the field as best possible.”
How have the winning experiences at La Salle helped shape you as a coach?
Forster: “La Salle will always be the place where I grew as a lacrosse player and coach. From winning a state championship as a player, to being a part of the staff last year’s championship team as a coach, I got to be a part of building a successful program. I was able to see first-hand what it takes to compete on a national stage, and how hard the coaching staff prepares and the players work each day. I thank the La Salle community for everything they have done for in the past 12 years.”
“Anything else you want to say?
Forster: “Tony Resch and Bill Leahy have been such important role models to me as a player first, and now as a coach. I’ve had the opportunity to learn both lacrosse lessons and life lessons from each of these men, and I can’t thank them enough. It’s also been a learning experience watching Coach (Jeff) Tambroni build the lacrosse program at Penn State. In working with my brother (Jack Forster) and talking with Coach Tambroni, I’ve come to realize how important it is to get better each day and instill a sense of pride and discipline in our team.”
“I want to thank ANC and (AD) Shawn Synnesvedt for making this such a great process and giving me the opportunity to work at this wonderful institution.”
Leave a Reply