Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/18/23 – Staff Report
Brett Manney, who came from a small-school program at Holy Ghost Prep as a 3-sport athlete and later starred on a Final Four NCAA team at Delaware before emerging as an elite indoor player for 15 years, has retired from the National Lacrosse League.
Manney made his announcement Friday night on Instagram:
“I can’t begin to thank everyone for all the support and kind words with my retirement. I started out playing professional lacrosse in the summer of 2008 and would have never imagined my journey lasted 15 years. I could not have done it without the support of my incredible family, amazing wife, unbelievable teammates, front office staff, trainers, and coaches. From Holy Ghost to Delaware to the pros, I was always a basketball kid at heart who fell in love with lacrosse. I love the game, loved my teammates and always tried to play the game the right way. My playing career is over but I will continue to give back all this great game has given me.”
Manney, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the old San Diego Stealth in 2008, had never played indoor lacrosse until becoming a pro. But he quickly emerged and was a member pf the NLL champion team at San Diego in 2010. He later spent 3 seasons with the former Philadelphia Wings franchise before it moved to New England and later Albany for his last 9 years. Manney also represented Team USA at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships twice, in 2015 and 2019.
Manney is also known for his many years with NXT, as a major recruiter and director of the popular Philly Showcase, as a club coach (since NXTs inception), and role as VP of Event Sales & Recruiting. Manney has also spent much time developing the sport of box lacrosse in the region and beyond.
Manney starred in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse at Holy Ghost Prep, which had just formed a varsity lax program in the early 2000s. Then he played at Delaware where he served as a captain of the Blue Hens while leading the team to two NCAA tournaments, including a visit to the Final Four during his junior year in 2007 when the tourney was held at Lincoln Financial Field. The Final Four visit was the best season in program history, even to this day.
Following his time at Delaware, Manney was drafted by the Washington Bayhawks of the MLL in 2008. In his final season with the Wings, Manney made an incredible save diving behind his goalie to stop the ball from going into the net. That save was the top play on SportsCenter.
Manney also is an assistant coach at The Haverford School, which was Inter-Ac League champion in 2023.
