Retired Colorado Mammoth star Gary Gait will continue his relationship with the team, but it might be on the sideline as head coach rather than in a suite as assistant general manager.
Jamie Batley remains the coach of the Mammoth, but he’s interested in becoming a National Lacrosse League general manager and has been given permission by Mammoth GM Steve Govett to pursue openings. If Batley moves on, Govett confirmed Monday he likely will hire Gait as head coach.
“Certainly it’s something we’re discussing right now,” Govett said. “Gary is supposed to be here full-time August 1. Jamie has asked me if he can pursue other opportunities in the league. He would like to be a general manager, and with two new teams in the league, there’s an opportunity. So he’s asked permission. We’ll let that play out, so we’ll make a decision from there.”
Under Batley, the Mammoth went 13-3 in 2004 and was knocked out of the playoffs in the semifinals. This past season, despite what appeared to be a talented roster, the team lost its final three regular-season games, finishing 8-8 and just qualifying for the final playoff spot in the Western Division, only to be eliminated in the first round by Arizona.
The Toronto Rock proved Saturday with its fifth NLL championship in seven years that having its coach in town is an advantage. In rising to NLL runner-up status in just two seasons in Arizona, the Sting also showed the benefits of an in-town coach.
While the NLL remains a weekend league with some players and coaches commuting for home games, Govett sees the benefits of an in-town coach working with in-town players during the week and not having the grind of constant travel.
Batley works for the Canadian government and commutes weekly from his Toronto-area home.
“No question, I’d love to have a coach here full-time,” Govett said. “When someone lives here it’s easier, it’s cost-effective. It has worked for Toronto. Still, it’s up in the air. Jamie’s out there kicking tires.”
When reached at his home Monday afternoon, Batley said, “I’d like to reserve any comment.”
In Batley’s quest for a GM position, there are openings with expansion franchises at Edmonton and Portland.
Also, applications are pending for a team based in New York’s Madison Square Garden and another in New England.
Gait, 38, retired April 22 after the Mammoth was eliminated by the Sting. In 15 seasons, Gait was a first-team all-pro 14 times and is the all-time scoring leader.
On May 28, Gait begins his fourth season as player-coach of the Baltimore Bayhawks of the Major Lacrosse League, a pro outdoor league. He was an assistant coach of the University of Maryland women’s lacrosse team from 1994-2002 under Cindy Timchal. In that span, the Terrapins won seven consecutive NCAA Division I titles, from 1995-2001.
Unlike playing or player-coaching, Gait has found coaching is not quite the same.
“Certainly, the competitive juices are flowing in coaching, no question,” he said. “Are they the same as playing? Probably not.”
But Gait is drawn by several aspects of coaching.
“Developing relationships with individual players; it’s the strategy, the teaching,” he said. “There are a whole lot of things I enjoy that make it fun.”
Gait plans to move his wife and two children to Denver in early August.
