Derek Keenan

Derek Keenan is a former lacrosse player, and current head coach and General Manager of the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League.

After a long amateur career, (with the Oshawa Green Gaels and the Brooklin Redmen of the Ontario Junior and Senior Leagues respectively, and Ithaca College where he made All-American), and appearances with the Canadian National Field team at several world championships, Keenan began professional play in 1992 with the Buffalo Bandits, where he won the 1992 Rookie of the Year Award. The Bandits won the Champions Cup in both of Keenan's seasons with the team. After a five year break, he played six games with the Toronto Rock in 1999, before becoming an assistant coach under Les Bartley. The Rock won the 1999 NLL Championship, and with Bartley at the helm and Keenan and Ed Comeau as assistant coaches, the Rock went to the championship game in each of the next four seasons, winning three times, in 2000, 2002, and 2003.

In November 2003, Bartley stepped down due to his battle with colon cancer, and Keenan was promoted to interim general manager, while Comeau was given the job of interim head coach.^[1] However, less than four months later, after a 2-4 start, both Keenan and Comeau were fired by the Rock,^[2] replaced by Terry Sanderson.

In 2005, Keenan was hired by the Anaheim Storm, becoming their head coach and general manager. He improved the Storm from a dismal 1-15 record in 2004 to a 5-11 record in 2005. However, the Storm folded after the 2005 season due to low attendance.

In July 2005, Keenan was named head coach and general manager of the then-unnamed Portland expansion franchise.^[3] The team was named the "LumberJax", and finished the 2006 season 11-5, becoming the first expansion team in NLL history to finish first in its division. Keenan was awarded both the GM of the Year Award and the Les Bartley Award for coach of the year.

Keenan is the second cousin of the NHL head coach Mike Keenan.^[4]

Statistics

National Lacrosse League

			Regular Season							Playoffs
Season	Team		GP	G	A	Pts	LB	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	LB	PIM
1992	Buffalo		8	26	23	42	41	8		3	6	10	16	18	2
1993	Buffalo		8	22	12	34	35	5		2	5	8	13	19	8
1999	Toronto		6	4	7	11	15	0		--	--	--	--	--	--
NLL Totals			22	52	42	94	91	13		5	11	18	29	37	10

References

1. ^ "Les Bartley sidelined by cancer". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. 2003-11-05. http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news031105.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-08. 
2. ^ "Rock cans Ed Comeau, Derek Keenan". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. 2004-02-17. http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news040217.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-08. 
3. ^ "Keenan finally named as Portland coach/GM". Outsider's Guide to the NLL. 2005-07-07. http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news050707.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-08. 
4. ^ Griwkowsky, Con (July 30, 2009). "Superstar Sighting...". Edmonton Rush website. http://www.edmontonrush.com/edmrush_news_detials.php?NID=NQ==. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 

Awards

Preceded by Gary Gait	NLL Rookie of the Year 1992	Succeeded by Tom Marechek (1994)
Preceded by Bob Hamley	NLL GM of the Year 2006	Succeeded by Marty O'Neill
Preceded by Ed Comeau	NLL GM of the Year 2010	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Bob Hamley	Les Bartley Award 2006	Succeeded by Ed Comeau

Persondata
Name	Keenan, Derek
Alternative names
Short description	Lacrosse coach
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death