Raiders are 2-0 for new coach
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Bill Quirk isn’t anyone new to the Hun School boys lacrosse team.
But in addition to being the athletic director, this spring he will also be their head coach. And in his first season, he’s trying to allow the players to take the lead on the field.
”As coaches, we talked about we don’t want to restrict them,” Quirk said. “We think they have the ability to do a lot of things on transition. We think our speed will be our best weapon.”
So far, so good. The Raiders are 2-0 after opening up with back-to-back convincing wins over Hill last Wednesday and Blair on Saturday. Harry Blackburn, Zach Martin and Sam Rosenberg had three goals apiece as Hun defeated Blair, 15-2. Martin also had four assists and Blackburn had three. The Raiders led, 14-0, at halftime.
The Raiders had a tougher time in their opener at Hill. Hun used a 7-2 advantage in the second and third quarters to overtake their hosts, 12-7. Brendan Gallagher had four goals and Martin added three goals. Rosenberg had two goals and two assists, and Peter Blackburn had 12 saves.
”I have a group of kids where a large group of them have played lacrosse here at Hun since middle school,” said Quirk, whose team plays at Delaware Valley today. “The coaches have been trying to get across that — you’ve played together and know each other, can you put it together one last time?”
Last year, the Raiders went 11-9. Quirk believes that his senior-dominated team should fare better this year against another challenging schedule.
”With the CVCs pulling out of the state association, it took away some of our rivals like West Windsor North and West Windsor South away,” Quirk said. “We were able to put Princeton High on the schedule. We always have Lawrenceville, Hill and Peddie. We’re not going to take anyone lightly.”
Quirk takes over for Greg Provenzano. Quirk hasn’t been a head lacrosse coach before, but he has been around the game. His oldest son played at Princeton University, and Quirk is still a regular at games. In taking over the Raiders, he has pulled from resources like the Tigers.
”Bill Tierney has been a great help,” Quirk said of the long-time PU coach. “We’ve spent quite a few hours talking about different situations and different philosophies. Anybody in the lacrosse fraternity has been great whenever I’ve needed help.
”My assistants, Tom Kelso and Cosimo Favaloro, they’ve been terrific. They’re easy to work with. They have a vast amount of knowledge of the game.”
Quirk has enjoyed past successes at Hun when he has had the opportunity to coach, and he has won in a variety of sports. In 1995, his women’s crew team won a national championship banner. He’s starting a little lower this season.
”I’d like to win the Bianchi,” Quirk said.
Quirk started coaching in football. He has been head coach at Hun in football, softball, wrestling, crew, and even ice hockey and swimming. He has coached middle school cross country. He is ready to take on a group that he has seen since they were that young, and hoping to make it a good experience for all involved.
”I am excited,” Quirk said. “As the athletic director, your schedule is such that sometimes you can put a team at a disadvantage if you’re the head coach and if you’re always pulled for meetings or this and that. But sometimes I enjoy getting back into the coaching realm.
”I watched these kids come up through the middle school. I’ve had a good relationship with them. Hopefully they’ll go out on a good note.”