Ken Millin & Rob Williams hired in Vegas, Dan Teat on Panther City exit
Ken Millin, St. Catharines Athletics (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs confirmed the addition of assistant coaches Ken Millin and Rob Williams earlier today.
Millin will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator, Williams at the other end of the floor as the Desert Dogs’ defensive coordinator.
The expansion team is of course led by General Manager & Head Coach Shawn Williams, who last week guided the Whitby Warriors to a Minto Cup championship.
Rob Williams (Photo: Candice Ward)
Millin, who played with Williams during their days with the Rochester Knighthawks, serves in the same role with the St. Catharines Athletics (Ontario Junior Lacrosse League) coaching staff, last year helping lead the team to an Iroquois Trophy win. Millin is a former Cup winner with both the Toronto Rock and Knighthawks, coached by the likes of Les Bartley, Paul Day, Ed Comeau and Paul Gait during his successful playing career with those two iconic pro-lacrosse franchises.
Williams joins the Desert Dogs after four successful years serving as an assistant with the Calgary Roughnecks, including the team’s third NLL Cup in 2019. After that season, Williams was forced to make the difficult decision to leave the organization due to his non-NLL work commitments.
Considered one of British Columbia’s top coaches today, Williams has also spent time coaching up-and-coming pro talent in the Arena Lacrosse League, as well as the Western Lacrosse Association’s Maple Ridge Burrards.
Williams spent nine seasons in the NLL, suiting up alongside Millin and even his new head coach when the trio played for the Ontario Raiders in 1998. There are eleven former Raiders currently coaching (head, assistant or non-bench assistant) in the league.
“I’m thrilled to bring on Ken and Rob to the Desert Dogs family,” Shawn Williams said in today’s team announcement. “Both of these guys have won at every level of the game they’ve been at.
“They possess the competitive drive, passion and dedication to the profession it will take for us to establish a winning culture in Vegas. Our players will benefit tremendously from their coaching.”
The Desert Dogs will draft second overall in the upcoming NLL Entry Draft, the team also recently acquiring high-profile forward Rob Hellyer in an unexpected deal with the Rock.
Young family & new career prevent Dan Teat from continuing with Panther City
In early August, the Panther City Lacrosse Club announced that assistant coach Dan Teat would no longer be continuing with the team.
“We want to thank Dan for all his hard work and commitment to our club this past season,” Panther City General Manager Bob Hamley said in the team’s August 10th statement. “We respect his decision to step away from the bench to spend more time with his family back home.
“Our offense made great strides in our inaugural season under his leadership and we wish Dan and his family nothing but the best going forward.”
Dan Teat
Today Teat took to social media to thank his now-former club, and also provided a bit more detail on his departure.
“I want to thank Bob Hamley, Greg Bibb, Tracey Kelusky, Steve Toll and the entire Panther City Lacrosse Club for an incredible first season in Texas,” Teat posted on Instagram. “Unfortunately with two young kids and a new career in real estate, the travel to the West Coast every weekend isn’t possible for me.
“I’m sad I won’t be returning to PCLC this season, but I wish the team tons of success and hope to be back in the near future.”
During their expansion season last year, Panther City narrowly missed the playoffs with a 7-11 record. The team averaged 10.6 goals per game, while their power-play efficiency was seventh best in the 14 team league. Kelusky was voted the Les Bartley Award winner (Coach of the Year) after the team’s impressive opening campaign.
Panther City has not named a replacement for Teat as of yet.
Last week the team made a significant trade, sending forward Randy Staats, who had yet to play for the franchise, to the Halifax Thunderbirds for a prospect and pair of high picks in upcoming drafts.