Twice a week over his summer break, Millikan High School senior Bryson Mansell has geared up for lacrosse practice at Wardlow Park with his teammates. For two hours, they run drills, teach incoming freshmen the ropes and wonder whether they’ll get a chance to play another season.
It’s a question that has been hanging heavy over the heads of the reigning Moore League champions. On a Tuesday morning in May, Mansell and his teammates got a text to meet in their former head coach’s office. There they learned he would be leaving for an opportunity to coach the Long Beach State men’s lacrosse team.
“It was really devastating,” Mansell said. “I think we all knew that we were kind of in a bad situation because we couldn’t think of anybody else who would be able to coach us, but I don’t think we understood the full problem — that we weren’t going to have very many applications.”
Confusion was the prevailing emotion over the next two months, said parent and president of the team’s booster club, Todd Dyer. Parents reached out to the school but received no response. He and a couple of other parents gathered the juniors, seniors and team captains to ask the players how they wanted to spend their summer without a coach.
The boys decided then to break up into groups, reach out to interested incoming freshmen and schedule their own practices as the search for a new head coach continued.
“It’s been a little bit stressful, but we have a very good set of captains and upperclassmen who are able to manage themselves well,” Mansell said. “Even the freshmen, who are going into a program that’s having some struggles right now, [are] really well indoctrinated into being part of the family.”
Part of being in that family is honoring the culture that players like Mansell have built over the years; one that’s centered around “working as hard as you possibly can.” It’s what they’ve done all summer waiting for good news.
On July 14, parents received an email from Millikan Athletic Director Kacey Mendoza and Assistant Principal Malcolm Turner, urging students to consider other sports or electives in case they can’t find a coach in time for the school year.
“Because we do not anticipate having a coach in place for the start of the year, we strongly encourage our athletes who are interested in participating in athletics to select and try out for another sport,” the email read. “… Please know that we want to keep our lacrosse program active and will continue to advertise the coaching position and actively seek qualified candidates. We remain hopeful that we will be able to hire a qualified coach in the coming months and will communicate any updates as soon as they become available.”
Players and parents alike took the email as a bad sign, and have since been scrambling for a solution.
Since then, Mendoza told The 562 that they have received multiple applicants and are interviewing people, but said they want to “make sure it’s the right fit and not hire, just to hire.”
Dyer said all the parents have been reaching out to people they know in the lacrosse community to try and fill the position. Despite the growing wave of interest in lacrosse in Southern California over the past decade, Millikan is the latest in struggling to secure a head coach for its program. In late July, Lakewood High announced it was shutting down both its boys and girls lacrosse programs after being unable to find a coach.
Dyer said he and other parents have kept the booster club running so the team has funds available when a coach is hired. He’s hoping Millikan’s championship caliber will incentivize coaches to apply. The team has won Moore League titles in 2022, 2024 and 2026. Dyer’s son has been on the team his entire high school career.
“He’s found something he loves and I don’t want him to lose it,” Dyer said, adding that the players are trying to keep that idea out of their heads.
In the meantime, players are determined to stay ready for a season they hope is coming. Mansell said their team’s culture is strong, and they have no problem practicing on their own if that’s what it takes. He’s been playing lacrosse at Millikan since his freshman year and has experienced the high of an undefeated season as well as two championship runs.
“I like to keep positive thinking that there is going to be a coach, but unfortunately I have to accept the fact that there might not be, and I feel like what I’ll be doing is just hanging out with my brother and friends more,” Mansell said.
The Signal Tribune reached out to Millikan High School officials to inquire about the boys lacrosse situation, and did not hear back at the time of publication.
Samantha Diaz
Managing Editor
Samantha is an award-winning journalist, sports fanatic and mother. She’s worked for the Signal Tribune for over three years and is passionate about covering environmental news, small businesses, mutual aid efforts and resources.
