When teams play below their potential, coaches usually are fired. That’s why the leadership change of the Denver Outlaws was so unusual Friday.
General manager Brian Reese took over for head coach Jim Beardmore on an interim basis, leaving Beardmore on the staff as associate head coach of the second-year Major League Lacrosse team.
With Reese emphasizing the scouting report, calling timeouts and running the offense, and Beardmore handling the defense and the debut of rookie goaltender Jesse Schwartzman, the Outlaws (3-3) ended a two-game losing streak Saturday and won 19-9 at Chicago.
“That shows how unselfish Jim is,” Reese said. “He knew there was a problem. With a lot of guys, their ego would get involved and they’d walk away. But his unselfishness helped the players ask themselves, ‘What can I do better?’ And that helped us against Chicago.”
The low salaries and part-time nature of the MLL dissuades exceptional college coaches from leaving their ranks for the pro game, which is why some coaches, like Beardmore, are hired from the high school level.
In this case, the learning curve proved too steep.
“It wasn’t a matter of Jim doing a poor job,” Reese said. “We threw a lot on his plate for a guy without a lot of experience in the league.”
Beardmore said: “I have to say, I think this is a total positive thing. It’s not like, ‘Oh, no! I can’t believe somebody’s coming down here.’
“Brian has a lot of knowledge of the league and I have very little, to be quite honest with you. … I am actually looking forward to his involvement and the gradual handing over of the reins to me in the future.”
Reese makes his Invesco Field debut tonight against Chicago (1-5). Most of Reese’s coaching will take place before the opening faceoff.
“I’m a firm believer in communicating roles so everyone understands,” Reese said.
In the net
All-star goaltender Trevor Tierney was examined by a specialist last week in an effort to determine if his latest concussion is cause for retirement. Tierney, who said he has sustained at least 10 concussions in recent years, was relieved to learn that it’s safe for him to resume his career. While practicing in goal Monday in preparation for tonight’s game, however, Tierney was plagued again by headaches and has been ruled out.
Schwartzman will start in Tierney’s place.
