Not a lot has changed for Peter Tellis since he watched his first lacrosse game from a top-row seat behind the goalie at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex back in 1989.
He still loves the sport as much he did as an eight year old and he still lives in the neighbourhood around the rink.
But these days the 34-year-old father of two prefers to survey the floor from a new location: standing behind the bench as the newest head coach of the Coquitlam Adanacs. With his new position, Tellis hopes to lead the Western Lacrosse Association club back to its former glory — not just in the standings but in its importance to the community as well.
“I want to get back to that entertaining lacrosse that I watched as a kid,” he told The Tri-City News. “We are really going to advance players that want to be part of this city and this team and this community.”
Tellis may be young for a WLA bench boss, but he already has a long resume.
He took on his first coaching gig when he was 16, leading the under-11 field lacrosse squad, before eventually taking an under-16 team and an under-19 team to the provincial championships.
For the last two years, Tellis has been at the helm of the Adanacs’ intermediate ‘A’ club, finishing up the 2015 campaign with a third place showing at the provincial championships after a first-place finish in the regular season. The team also amassed an impressive goal differential, racking up 259 tallies compared to 11 against with a 15-3 record.
Tellis was also behind the bench as the offensive coach during the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs Minto Cup run in 2014, a post-season performance that saw the club win the B.C. Jr. ‘A’ Lacrosse League title and come within two wins of the ultimate prize.
“Yes, there are younger coaches,” he said. “But I have a lot of experience with this age group. I have coached a lot of different levels… for a very long time.”
The next few months will be busy for the new head coach.
First, he has to prepare for the WLA draft, which is coming up in the fall. Then, he needs to start getting ready for training camp in the spring.
Assisting him will be new team president Randy Clough, who said hiring Tellis is a big step forward for the team.
“I personally feel he is one of the top coaches in the province,” Clough said. “Peter has a wealth of knowledge and a commitment that is matched by very few.”
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