By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/23/22
The National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association today named Radnor’s John Begier as its winner of the National Boys’ 2022 Coach of the Year.
Begier guided the Raptors to their second straight PIAA 3A championship in 2022 and third overall. His team went 24-2, swept the Central League and District 1 titles and was one of the top-ranked teams in North America. Coach Begier led the 2021 squad to a 23-2 mark and was named the Phillylacrosse.com Co-Coach of the Year.
Begier – who also led Radnor to the 2015 PIAA title – and has been the Head Coach of Radnor HS since 2007. He has accumulated 239 wins and was named to the Eastern PA Lacrosse Region of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2009.
“This is an award for our program,” Begier said. “It happens because of our players, coaching staff, and administration at Radnor. I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”
“NILCA is honored to name Coach Begier as our NILCA Coach of the Year,” said Ren Pettinelli, President of the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association. “Begier exemplifies the Coaches that make up our sport. He has taken a good program, and through hard work and dedication has been able to elevate it to one of national prominence.”
The NILCA has honored coaches for the national award since 2011. Haverford School’s John Nostrant was the first Philly coach to be recognized, in 2015.
Begier has always credited his staff for the program’s great success – assistants include defensive coordinator John Sims, offensive coordinator Mark Petrone as well as Mike Podgajny, Larry Disipio, Taylor Sims and Cole Yeager.
“He is great coach and what he does that I really enjoy is that he lets John Sims and I coach our individual sides of the field,” said Petrone. “If he has anything to say about it, he gives you a little input. He lets us go.
“He’s the maestro. You can’t have a symphony without a maestro. He’s a great coordinator of people. He’s just all about figuring out what makes you tick and making you successful.”
Petrone said Begier is also able to motivate all players and treats each one as a star.
“First of all he’s a business man and he takes a very business-like approach to HS lacrosse,” Petrone said. “He’s good at taking the pulse of the team and figuring out what guys need to do to be successful.
“His biggest sound bit is, ‘everyone’s a one’ which means that he cares deeply for every boy on the roster and everyone is cared for and everyone gets coached.”
