There has been a plethora of coaching changes at the college level in the offseason. However, one change was so sudden that it uprooted a massive community of lacrosse fans, players and alumni.
UMass announced the retirement of Greg Cannella at the end of August after 33 seasons in charge. It's no exaggeration to say that Cannella was one of the most stable and recognized coaches in the sport.
Shortly after the announcement, the athletic department named assistant coach and UMass alum Kyle Smith as his successor. Smith is no stranger to anyone who has been in the coaching and media scene in New England for the past decade or so, but assistants don't get the same spotlight that head coaches do.
So, who is Kyle Smith? What is his background? What will he bring as the new UMass head coach? I sat down with him to talk about his ascension and vision for this year's squad and beyond.
