A Coquitlam lacrosse legend is coming home.
Curt Malawsky is the new coach and general manager of the Vancouver Warriors in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
Malawsky played 13 seasons in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) and led the Coquitlam Adanacs to its only Mann Cup national championship in 2001. He also played 12 seasons in the NLL and won a league title with the Calgary Roughnecks in 2009.
After retiring as a player that same year, Malawsky moved into the Roughnecks’ front office as an assistant general manager and associate coach.
Three years later, he became the team's head coach, leading his charges to two championship finals, including a title in 2019.
Last year, Malawsky was awarded the Les Bartley Award as the NLL's coach of the year after the Roughnecks won 13 games — a franchise record.
In May, Malawsky expanded his portfolio as the new head coach of the WLA's Langley Thunder.
He's also a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and, last year, he was inducted into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame.
In a statement on the Warriors' website, Malawsky said he's grateful for the opportunity to be closer to family.
"I am extremely proud to take on this new opportunity in my home province," he said.
Michael Doyle, the president of business operations for Canucks Sports and Entertainment that owns the Warriors, called Malawsky a "difference maker" and characterized his hiring as "a very important day for the Vancouver Warriors franchise."
